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65
Psittacosis.
Two cases were brought to our attention by the Physician-inCharge
of the Chest Clinic, after they had been referred to him
by private practitioners.
Further reference to this condition has been made in the
prefatory letter.
Scarlet Fever.
Notifications of this disease showed an increase in 1956,
75 cases being notified as against 44 in the previous year.
Twenty-four of these were admitted to hospital.
The general run of cases is now so mild and uncomplicated
that normally very little anxiety is occasioned by this illness. In
addition, some cases are so mild and atypical that extreme difficulty
may be experienced in arriving at a definite diagnosis and it may
well be that cases are occurring which do not receive medical
attention, having been considered merely as a slight throat infection.
There were no " return cases " and no deaths occurred in the area
from this disease during 1956.
Smallpox and Vaccination.
Another year has passed without any cases of this disease
but it is still an ever present potential menace against which our
defences must always be kept deployed. The policy of offering
re-vaccination annually to all members of the staff of the Public
Health Department has been maintained.
It is interesting to note that during the year as many as 358
International Certificates of Vaccination have passed through the
hands of the department for purposes of authenticating doctors'
signatures.
I am indebted to the County Medical Officer for the following
figures showing the current position with regard to vaccination in
the area.
A total of 902 residents received primary vaccination and
144 re-vaccination during 1956.
Tuberculosis.
The following table shows the position with regard to tuberculosis,
with comparative figures since 1943 (as corrected by
inward and outward transfers).
There were eleven deaths from tuberculosis during the year.