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The table calls for little comment. For the second year in succession
no case of Diphtheria was notified.
Scarlet Fever, which had been increasing during the later months
of the previous year, continued to increase during the early months
of 1950: the peak was passed in the month of March and thereafter
incidence declined rapidly.
The incidence of Infantile Paralysis was again quite high in the
country as a whole, but Beckenham escaped comparatively lightly;
seven cases were notified and most of them were slight; the cases were
scattered and there was no apparent connection between them.
The cases of Amoebic Dysentery were puzzling; prevalent in the
East, this type of Dysentery does not often appear in this country as a
primary infection. There was no evidence that the infection was imported
from abroad, and the sufferers were small children; the source of infection
was never discovered.
The incidence of Measles was lower than in recent years; there
are signs that the bi-annual periodicity is beginning to re-establish itself.
The percentage of cases among children under school age was markedly
greater than it used to be.
Although complete and thorough investigation was made into alll
of the cases which were notified as Food Poisoning, pathogenic bacteria
were not found in any of the specimens of the foods consumed, or in the
excreta of the patients.
Bacteriological Work.
The services of the Kent County Council Laboratories at Maidstone
and the Public Health Laboratories at the Park Hospital, Lewisham,
are available for use by Beckenham Medical Practitioners.
It is not possible to give any factual statistics regarding this work
for quite a large number of specimens are sent direct to the Laboratories
by Medical Practitioners.
New Cases attending the Tuberculosis Dispensaries for the first time
during 1950.