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106
While present progress affords reason for satisfaction to all who
have worked unremittingly to bring about the elimination of
diphtheria, it must again be emphasised that there is an inherent
danger in that freedom from this disease may lead to apathy towards
immunisation, which, in turn, could give rise to recrudescence.
A warning against any relaxation of effort was made by the
Minister of Health when asking that the Diphtheria Publicity
Campaign should be continued by the various health organisations.
Diphtheria immunisation is a County Council service and during
the year there were 783 completed immunisations carried out in the
Borough. This is a decrease of 121 from that of the previous year
and a reduction of no less than 853 from the figure returned for 1950.
County Council publicity in support of the Minister's campaign
stressed the fact that there is now a generation of parents growing
up that, having no knowledge of the dire effects of diphtheria, has
no fear of the disease, yet retaining almost a hypochondriacal
attitude to poliomyelitis.
In London there were 12 notifications and 2 deaths registered
in 1955, compared with 4 and nil respectively for 1954, and these
deaths were the first recorded since 1952. The figures are small
and, therefore, may be of little significance, but they do occasion
anxieties as to whether recent advances are likely to be reversed.
Antitoxin.—Since January, 1949 arrangements have been made
for a small stock of diphtheria antitoxin to be held at St. Alfege's
Hospital for use by general practitioners in emergencies.
Acute Primary Pneumonia and Acute Influenzal Pneumonia.—There
were 14 cases attributed to these causes, as compared
with 23 and 16 for the years 1953 and 1954 respectively. Five
occurred in East Greenwich, 1 in West Greenwich, 2 in St. Nicholas,
Deptford, and 6 in Charlton and Kidbrooke. There were no
deaths.
Typhoid.—Two cases were notified as paratyphoid fever, but
these were subsequently diagnosed as enteritis. There was one case
last year and a nil return for 1953.
Scarlet Fever.—Sixty cases were notified during the year and
3 corrections were received, and the final total of 57 compares favourably
with 69 cases for 1954. Fourteen occurred in East Greenwich,
6 in West Greenwich, 2 in St. Nicholas, Deptford, and 35 in Charlton
and Kidbrooke.