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Outside the Borough of St. Pancras Dr. Geffen was well known for his interest
in poliomyelitis andhis work on the relationship between injections and paralysis
in this disease. Illness prevented him from reading a paper at an international
conference on poliomyelitis at Munich in the Autumn of 1959 and I had the honour
to present the paper for him. We both continued to follow carefully the progress
of immunisation against this disease. In St. Pancras during the year 13,629
persons under the age of 26 were given two inoculations against poliomyelitis
and 11,644 persons had a third inoculation. In spite of this there were 14 cases
of poliomyelitis in the Borough during the year. Of these cases, eight were
paralytic, so there should be no slackening in the campaign for immunisation
against this disease. All persons up to the age of 40 may be inoculated and I
especially urge persons who are travelling to countries outside Europe and North
America to have at least two injections against poliomyelitis before commencing
their journey.
The steady decrease in the number of deaths from tuberculosis continues
In 1949 the number of St. Pancras deaths from this disease was 105, but in 1959
there were only 13 deaths. I am glad to report that there was no significant
increase in the number of deaths from cancer of the lung or from heart diseases.
Statistics concerning other diseases will be found later in the report.
1959 was a sad year for the Public Health Department for, in addition to
Dr. Geffen's death, Mr. Hague,, one of the Public Health Inspectors who had served
in the Borough for nearly forty years, died in August 1959 and Mr. Williams,
another Public Health Inspector with over 21 years' service, died in March 1960.
Both these officers had suffered long illnesses and are greatly missed by their
colleagues,
In conclusion I would like to thank your Worship and the Aldermen and members
of the Council for your help and interest throughout the year My thanks are due
particularly to the Chairman and members of the Public Health Committee. I also
acknowledge the help and co-operation of all my colleagues in the various depart
ments of the Council and the unfailing support and loyalty of the staff of the
Public Health Department.
I beg to remain,
Your Worship, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
SUSAN M. TRACY,
Medical Officer of Health