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5
Tuberculosis
The tuberculosis death rate of all forms of tubercle was 22., 7 per 100,000 of the population
- compared with 24-0 for last year. The greatest number of deaths occurred in men
over 45 years of age. The notification rate has also decreased from 115.1 to 91.0 per
100,000. In another part of this report I quote freely from the Annual Report of Dr. H. C.
Price, Chest Physician, Fulham Chest Clinic.
Diphtheria
Two cases of diphtheria occurred during the year - the first since 1949. Both were
adults and neither was immunised. There has been no death from diphtheria in the Borough
since 1948.
Poliomyelitis
There were 19 cases of poliomyelitis amongst Fulham residents during the year, This
is the largest number of cases since the epidemic of 1947. In 1954 only one case of
poliomyelitis occurred. This year the disease was not epidemic, reaching a peak period
rather was it endemic in form, the incidence of cases being spread over the year. No deaths
occurred I include a report by Dr. W. H. Kelleher, Physician Superintendent, Western
Hospital, on "Poliomyelitis in the Western Hospital during 1955."
Typhoid
One case of typhoid fever occurred during the year, which was related to a small outbreak
in a nearby Borough All necessary precautions and investigations were undertaken.
The patient recovered completely.
Dysentery
It is gratifying to report a marked decrease in the amount of dysentery occurring
during the year.
SANITARY INSPECTORS
The sanitary inspectorate is still below establishment in Pulham and London generally.
This means that certain duties of the inspectors cannot be carried out and the house-tohouse
inspection initiated in 1954, had to be abandoned temporarily But for the Council's
foresight in initiating a scheme for the training of student sanitary inspectors (two of
whom have now qualified and are members of the Council's staff), the shortage would have
been more acute. One other student sanitary inspector was in training during the year and
the Council has now decided to train three student sanitary inspectors instead of two in
future.
HOUSING
A slight improvement in the number of sanitary inspectors during the year has enabled
the house-to-house inspection to be re-started This inspection,, although limited, has
been of value in bringing to light streets where the property is not really bad but
where the accumulation of minor defects, if not attended to, would sooner or later result
in serious deterioration Attention to these defects has improved the property and
prevented further deterioration. This house-to house inspection repeatedly confirms
the housing problems constantly recurring in Fulham, viz. There are many properties in the
Borough a century or more old, which really require extensive and expensive repairs- There
are also a number of properties with leases about to expire, held by "men of straw" who will
not do the necessary repairs. Underground rooms exist which, owing to the shortage of
houses, or for other reasons, cannot receive radical treatment.