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At the end of 1944 it was considered that 78% of children under 5 years of age and 72% of those between 5 and 15
had been immunised. These estimates include, so far as can be assessed, children immunised in St. Marylebone by
private arrangement and children who came into the Borough after being immunised elsewhere.
Smallpox.—Eleven cases of this disease were reported in the County of Middlesex and two in the metropolitan area
during February and March. All occurred at, or in association with, the country branch of a hospital in the Borough.
The outbreak was characterised by a high degree of virulence, and three of the patients died of haemorrhagic confluent
smallpox (two had never been vaccinated, and one—-an elderly woman—had not been vaccinated since infancy).
With the close connection existing between the parent hospital and its branch in Middlesex and the frequent interchange
of medical and nursing staff and patients, the necessary preventive measures were at once taken by the Department.
The staff, patients and other contacts at the hospital and elsewhere in the Borough were kept under constant
observation during the incubation period, and altogether over 2,000 vaccinations were carried out. No case of smallpox
occurred in St. Marylebone.
Vaccination.—Vaccinations carried out numbered 2,711 (primary, 479; re-vaccinations, 2,232). Vaccination was
successful in 2,691 instances; unsuccessful in 15; while 5 cases were awaiting inspection. Of the 944 children whose
births were registered in 1943, 692 (73.3%) were successfully vaccinated.
Miss Evelyn Theodora Dalrymple Maclagan, M.B., B.S., was appointed as occasional deputy to the Public Vaccinator
(Dr. Myles Colt) for North and South Marylebone Districts, in place of Dr. Alexander C. Gavin, deceased.
Scabies.—The Council's Cleansing Station in Lisson Grove dealt with 812 cases of scabies: adults 213 (men 51,
women 162); children 599 (boys 230, girls 369). The Scabies Clinic at the Middlesex Hospital treated 2,465 cases:
adults 2,215 (men 1,183, women 1,032); children 250 (boys 120, girls 130). Included in the figures for both centres
are patients who came from outside the Borough. Domiciliary visits paid in connection with St. Marylebone cases
numbered 293.
Impetigo.—Fifty boys and 51 girls received treatment for this condition at the Cleansing Station.
Dysentery.—During the last four months of the year an outbreak of Sonne dysentery occurred at the St. Marylebone
Home (London County Council). Sixty-six cases (58 men, 8 women) were reported and all the patients were removed
to an isolation hospital. Four of the cases (3 men, 1 woman) proved fatal.
Venereal Diseases.—Continued assistance was given to the propaganda campaign for drawing public attention to
the dangers of these conditions and to the adequate facilities which exist for those in need of treatment.
Talks on venereal diseases were given in the Borough to civil defence personnel and other workers by lecturers of
the Central Council for Health Education under the grant received by that body from the London County Council.
Blood specimens from patients attending the Council's ante-natal clinics continued to be submitted, as a routine
measure, to a group laboratory of the London County Council for the Wassermann reaction and Kahn test.
Insulin.—Supplies of insulin for the poorer inhabitants suffering from diabetes were provided free of cost by the
Council in three cases, under the authority of Ministry of Health Circular 2734, dated 4th January, 1943.
Tuberculosis—New Cases and Mortality.—Tabic 8, prepared at the request of the Ministry of Health, contains
information with regard to age and sex distribution of all forms of tuberculosis.