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cases, whooping cough with 345 and scarlet fever with 245,
the latter disease being, generally speaking, of low virulence.
There is more and more evidence that the great problem of
the future will be the control of the virus infections, tight
cases of paralytic poliomyelitis which is now, unfortunately,
an annual visitant and may, in fact, be regarded as
endemic in this country, were notified. There is, however, at
the present time, a somewhat greater hope of controlling this
disease by immunisation although vaccination against poliomyelitis
is still very much in the experimental stage. It may
be some years yet before a vaccine can be produced in such
a reliable form that it can be depended upon to produce
resistance to the virus of this disease.
The welfare of old people continues to take up a considerable
amount of the time of the department. The notification
of an old person living alone, often in very bad conditions,
may present itself as an emergency requiring
immediate attention. It is often a serious problem to decide
as to the best action to be taken. Admission to hospital
sometimes provides a temporary respite to the difficulties
of the old person but still leaves the problem of what is
going to happen when he or she is ready for discharge. A
tribute is due to those volunteers, from many sources, who
are prepared to clean up the home and receive the old
person on return from hospital. Recognition must, also, be
given to the Woolwich Group Hospital Management Committee
who are very co-operative in this matter. It may be
that in spite of all the contra-indications it is in the interests
of the old person to be kept at home, however deplorable
this may be and to apply, to the fullest extent, the social
remedies which are available. In this connection the Home
Help Service is invaluable. Many old people ask for no
more than to be allowed to keep their independence and
their old homes and, wherever possible, this must be
respected. The work of the Old People's Welfare Committee
and the "good neighbours" of whom there are so
many, often makes it possible for this solution to be applied.
I have many times reported to the Health Committee
that, although the death rate from tuberculosis has been
falling rapidly during recent years due to great improvements
in medical treatment, the notification rate has not
shown a similar reduction. This may be due, in part, to
better means of ascertainment, notably by means of Miniature
Mass Radiography, but I have, from time to time,
suggested that an attack on the problem of tuberculosis from
all possible angles, preventative and curative, is necessary
if the disease is to be finally conquered. The Minister of
Health has now prepared a memorandum which accompanied
Circular No. 8/54 in which he indicates a need for
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