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one can look forward with confidence to the early abolition
of this disease. The antibiotics and chemo-therapeutic drugs
have shorn measles of most of its terrors due, largely, to
preventing the serious complications such as broncho-pneumonia,
which was the main cause of death in years gone by.
Much discussion is taking place at the present time as
to whether the present system of notification of infectious
diseases, which is founded, largely, on experience gained
during the last half-century, does not need to be drastically
overhauled. The notification of measles, which came into
operation in 1940 when environmental conditions were seriously
affected by the war, is regarded by many as being
unnecessary at the present time in view of the fact that little,
if any, action is taken following the receipt of notifications
from general practitioners. The cost of this notification is
quite considerable and there is no commensurate return from
the health point of view. Scarlet fever is another disease the
notification of which could, perhaps, temporarily be discontinued.
It is hoped that in the future the whole position of
notification of infectious disease will be rationalised in the
light of present day needs.
During the year poliomyelitis vaccination was vigorously
carried out by the Local Health Authority and details
of the numbers vaccinated are given on page 46.
During 1958, the Council decided, in principle, to implement
the provisions of section 11 of the Clean Air Act,
1956 relating to smoke control areas and a pilot survey was
carried out with a view to obtaining reliable information as
to the cost of replacing unsuitable appliances and adapting
others to make them capable of burning smokeless fuels.
The area suggested for the first smoke control area is that
part of the Borough bounded by Okehampton Crescent (both
sides), Lodge Hill, Longleigh Lane and part of Brampton
Road and is approximately 120 acres in extent. It contains
1,352 houses, of which 353 are Council houses, and 988
private dwellings. This area was chosen for its compactness
and for the fact that 350 of the houses comprising the Lodge
Hill Estate are already fitted with approved appliances, the
remainder of the houses being modern and erected in the
1930s. The area, further, immediately adjoins the East
Wickham hutments development area which the Council will,
no doubt, wish to convert to a smoke control area in due
course and it is comparatively near to the Abbey Wood
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