London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Barking 1947

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

This page requires JavaScript

20
but we do not seem to be able to control this disease in a way in which some other
diseases have been controlled.
It is very important that Measles should be prevented, of course, under all
circumstances, but it is particularly important that Measles should be prevented
among young children, not altogether so far as Measles, as such, is concerned, but
by reason of the complications which are likely to arise—such as bronchitis.
One factor which has made the control of Measles particularly difficult is that
the case can be and—indeed—is infectious before the rash develops whilst yet it
looks as though the child is suffering from a cold. Even twenty-four hours or so
before the rash can be seen with the naked eye it can be detected by taking a
photograph of the child; whether this will ever prove of any practical worth in the
early detection of Measles I do not know, but we may try it when, having more
beds for such cases, early detection can be of real value by leading to early isolation.
Another factor which militates against us reducing the incidence of Measles
is that it is so often a mild disease and the parents of children who are only mildly
affected think lightly of it and allow their children to play with other children before
they should.
The small incidence of Diphtheria is, of course, one of the remarkable
achievements of the age. We diminished the dangers of Diphtheria before the
introduction of inoculation, but the introduction of inoculation has chained the
disease and, indeed, so far as we can see, could stamp it out if only people were
one hundred per cent. determined to get one hundred per cent, of their children
inoculated.
Inoculation as carried out today is simple; in the vast majority of cases it is all
but painless ; it should be undertaken long before the child attends school but when
the child does attend school or otherwise begins to come in contact with large
numbers of other children, it should have a boosting dose which will see it through
the greater part of its school life, after which Diphtheria is not a major problem.
One of the greatest tributes we have had recently to the work of inoculation in
Diphtheria is that what, years ago, would have been a very minor outbreak—
something to be looked upon as quite normal to the time of year—people of Barking
now speak of as an epidemic. I hope the public will remain so alive to the value
of inoculation and that the knowledge of its value will spread throughout the
whole of the public.
INFANTILE PARALYSIS.
Question:—What was done in Barking to stop the recent outbreak of
Infantile Paralysis ?
Answer:—This again is a question not of my asking, but one which was put
to me and one which I will try to answer faithfully although it does not represent
medicine in a very favourable light.