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they would have been without mass radiography, etc. The rise in the incidence is,
however, ominous.

On the other hand cerebro-spinal fever and poliomyelitis were more prevalent
than 50 years ago. Poliomyelitis was, in fact, epidemic during the year, and there
were 668 cases with 50 deaths, almost equal in magnitude and severity to the 1947
outbreak. There were 19 deaths from cerebro-spinal fever compared with one only
in 1900.
The significant drop in the number of infants vaccinated persisted, and by the
end of the year only about 25 per cent. of those born in 1949 had been vaccinated
(page 61).
The success of diphtheria prophylaxis is gratifying but its continuance is
dependent on the maintenance of a high level of immunisation, and it is vitally
important to ensure that as many infants as possible are immunised. This
procedure suffered a slight set-back during the outbreak of poliomyelitis in the
summer (page 61).
The number of new cases of venereal disease shows a reduction on the figures
for 1948, and has fallen to pre-war level.
The number of calls on the accident ambulance service again increased by 11
per cent. over the figure for 1948 and the demand is now 35 per cent. above the
pre-war level. The demand on the general or "removals" section in terms of
persons conveyed increased by 52 per cent. over 1948. This section has dealt with
183,000 more patients than in the previous year and the miles run have increased
by over 30 per cent. The Hospital Car Service, which provides conveyance of
persons to hospitals, usually for out-patient treatment, by means of private cars
on a mileage payment system, more than doubled its activities (page 69).
This year the historical section of the report is concerned with the ambulance
service and will be found in pages 63 to 69.
The new health centres provided for in the Act have suffered in the general
curtailment of new building construction but work on the centre at Woodberry Down
has started, the Minister of Health himself performing the initial ceremony (see
page 43).
Some of the work of the department connected with deprived children was
transferred to the new Children's Department during the year together with some
of the head office staff.
The work of the chemical branch continued to grow, and a summary of its
activities in connection with the measurement of atmospheric pollution is included
this year (page 33). Monuments would not seem to have any place in a medical
officer's report, but on page 32 will be found an account of the department's
co-operation in the cleaning of Cleopatra's Needle.
Attendances at the maternity and child welfare centres were well maintained,
and approximately 84 per cent. of all infants born in 1949 were taken to the centres
(page 44).
The demand on the Home Help Service tends to outstrip supply, and the cost
has more than doubled since 1947-48 (page 57).