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
Carshalton 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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TABLE 12.
MEASLES—WARD INCIDENCE AND MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION, 1956.
(Excluding hospital patients non-resident in Carshaltonl
| 1956 | Ward | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helier North | St. Helier South | St. Helier West | North-East | Northwest | Central | South-East | Southwest | ||
| January | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 |
| February | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | 2 |
| March | 23 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 24 |
| April | 10 | 1 | – | 3 | – | – | 1 | – | 15 |
| May | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 2 |
| June | – | 1 | – | – | 7 | – | 1 | – | 9 |
| July | 1 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 23 | 6 | – | 3 | 71 |
| August | – | 9 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 2 | – | – | 36 |
| September | 1 | – | – | 6 | – | 1 | – | – | 8 |
| October | – | – | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 3 |
| November | – | – | – | 37 | 34 | 36 | 1 | – | 108 |
| December | – | 1 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 5 | – | 47 |
| Totals | 35 | 40 | 5 | 88 | 88 | 58 | 9 | 3 | 326 |
| Monthly Mean | 2.91 | 3.33 | 0.41 | 7.33 | 7.33 | 4.83 | 0.75 | 0.25 | 27.16 |
| Case rate per 1,000 population | 4.13 | 5.74 | 0.63 | 9.0 | 11.9 | 9.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 5.3 |
Whooping Cough
There is little doubt that the practice of immunisation is now having
a definite effect on the prevalence of this disease. Although the same near
total success cannot be claimed for this technique in the case of whooping
cough as it can in the case of diphtheria, a considerable degree of protection
can be conferred by the whooping cough vaccines now in use. Even where
infection cannot be completely prevented the ensuing attack in the immunised
is invariably mild and attended by little risk.
Cases notified fell further last year to 73 which again is a new record
low for this disease. They occurred in two small waves, one in the spring
and the other in the autumn. There were no deaths.
The practice of whooping cough immunisation available under the
County Council's scheme has been increasing steadily in recent years and
now approaches the level reached by that in respect of diphtheria. It is now
in the region of 60%, much the best so far.
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