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106
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 807 completed immunisations carried out in the
Borough. This is an increase of 24 over that of the previous year
but a reduction of no less than 829 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 11 notifications and 3 deaths registered
in 1956 compared with 12 and 2 respectively for 1955. The deaths
registered for the years 1955 and 1956 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 16 and 14 for the years 1954 and 1955, respectively. Six
occurred in East Greenwich, 1 in St. Nicholas, Deptford, and
7 in Charlton and Kidbrooke.
One case, a woman of 67 years, was removed to hospital where
she died.
Typhoid.—There was one case of paratyphoid fever notified
last year, a similar return to that of 1955. This case was removed to
hospital and eventually made a satisfactory recovery.
Scarlet Fever.—A total of 58 notifications for the year shows
an increase of 1 over 1955 and compares favourably with 69 cases for
1954. Twenty-one occurred in East Greenwich, 13 in West Greenwich,
3 in St. Nicholas Deptford, and 21 in Charlton and Kidbrooke.
Twelve cases were removed to hospital and no fatalities were
recorded.