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and made extensive enquiries locally, but no information of value in tracing the origin of infection
could be obtained. The patient recovered and no other cases of psittacosis were notified. A full
report of the occurrence was submitted to the Ministry of Health whose Medical Officers were especially
interested in the case, particularly having regard to its sporadic nature and the opportunity it afforded
of further research.
*Diphtheria Immunisation.—Clinic facilities were available at Maternity and Child Welfare Centres
Nos. 1 and 2, and at the Middlesex Hospital. Treatments were also carried out at the day nurseries, and
at one elementary school where, apart from new cases, 114 additional protective injections were given.
Four general practitioners who wished to carry out immunisation of their patients in the home or at
the surgery were supplied with the necessary prophylactic free of charge. A.P.T. (Alum Precipitated
Toxoid) was the agent generally employed. T. A. F. (Toxoid-Antitoxin Floccules) was used in a small
proportion of cases.

*Vaccination.—Vaccinations carried out in the Borough numbered 487 (primary, 347; re-vaccinations,
140). Vaccination was successful in 415 instances; unsuccessful in 68; while 4 cases were not available
for inspection.
Section 26(5) of the National Health Service Act, 1946, repealed the Vaccination Acts, 1867-1907,
the effect being that vaccination against smallpox ceased to be compulsory after the 4th July, 1948.
The powers of metropolitan borough councils in regard to vaccination were then transferred under
the Act to the London County Council who prepared a scheme, approved by the Minister of Health,
for making arrangements with medical practitioners for the vaccination of persons desiring it.
International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation.—In accordance with the request of the
Ministry of Health, arrangements were made for the authentication by the Medical Officer of Health
of certificates of vaccination and inoculation issued by medical practitioners in St. Marylebone in
respect of persons proceeding abroad.
Scabies.—The Council's Cleansing Station in Lisson Grove dealt with 352 cases of scabies : adults
55 (men 29, women 26) ; children 297 (boys 136, girls 161) Domiciliary visits paid in connection with
St. Marylebone cases numbered 49.
Impetigo.—Forty boys and 152 girls received treatment for this condition at the Cleansing Station.
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.
Under the grant received by the Central Council for Health Education from the London County
Council, nine lectures on sex education were given at various youth centres in the Borough. Health
films by the Central Office of Information were shown at a meeting arranged by a church organisation
in St. John's Wood.
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 diabetics were provided free of cost by the Council in one case, under
the authority of Ministry of Health Circular 2,734, dated 4th January, 1943.
Food Poisoning.—No outbreak of food poisoning, which is notifiable in the Borough, occurred during
the year but two unrelated cases were reported. In neither instance was the source discovered, and
both patients recovered.
* The information contained in these paragraphs relates to the period 1st January, 1948, to 4th July, 1948.