London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Brentford and Chiswick 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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Smallpox
During the year five contacts of suspected smallpox cases were notified
to this Department from various sources. The contacts were followed up, but no
sickness developed.
Vaccination against Smallpox
The following information regarding vaccinations against smallpox carried out in the Borough during 1955 has been supplied by the County Medical Officer.
| Number of persons who during the year were:- | Age groups | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | 1 | 2-4 | 5 - 14 | IS & Over | ||
| vaccinatedfor first time | 375 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 36 | 438 |
| re-vaccinated | - | 1 | 5 | 10 | 87 | 103 |
| Total | 375 | 6 | 17 | 20 | 123 | 541 |
Total number of first vaccinations:-
| 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 |
| 298 | 373 | 548 | 487 | 438 |
It will be noted that 375 children under 1 year of age were vaccinated out
of 788 born during the year, i.e, 47.5%. This is a slight decrease from last
year when the figure was 50%, The figure for 1953 was 55%,
Scarlet Fever
A Considerable fall in the number of cases of scarlet "fever, is to be
seen, the figures being 48 in 1955, as compared with 95 in 1954, 24 cases were
admitted to hospital and the disease did not appear to be.severe in type.
In 3 instances a second case occurred in the household in which a previous
case had been notified.
Diphtheria
One case of diphtheria was notified during the year, but was subsequently
not confirmed. The last confirmed case of diphtheria in the Borough was in 1948.
Information concerning immunisation against diphtheria in the Borough during 1955 has been supplied by the County Medical Officer, and is as follows:-
| Number of children who | Age | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | 1 | 2-4 | 5-14 | ||
| 332 | 95 | 27 | 9 | 463 | |
| - | - | 183 | 167 | 350 | |
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