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is quite likely, should the level of immunisation be allowed to fall to a
sufficiently low level The duty of parents is plain. They should have their
children immunised without fail at the age of eight to nine months with booster
doses at five and ten years. It is estimated that, at present, about half the
children under the age of fifteen years are at risk through non immunisation
should the disease light up again in our midst.
In my report for 1958 I reported that there had been no case of poliomye
litis and expressed the hope that the mass immunisation of children and young
persons might result in the gradual overcoming of this disease. Whilst over
optimism would be out of place, it is recorded with satisfaction that no case
of poliomyelitis occurred during 1959. As in the case of diphtheria, parents
and young adults must ensure that the younger section of the population is kept
at a high level of vaccination against this disease It is authoritatively
accepted that the effectiveness of the vaccine now used exceeds 90% for those
persons receiving three or more doses of the vaccine.
Tuberculosis is generally recognised to be a waning disease and it is at
this stage in the natural history of a disease that most effective measures
towards its eradication can be taken. The number of new cases of tuberculosis
notified during 1959 was 11, compared with 21 cases in 1958 and 17 in 1957. In
view of this obvious reservoir of infection the Councils of Crayford Bexley
and Erith, in conjunction with the South East London Mass Radiography Service,
in the latter part of 1959, set up the necessary machinery to carry out a
concentrated mass radiography survey in the area of the three Authorities in
the summer of 1960. A full account of this survey will be given in the report
for 1960 but it can be said, at the time of writing, that approximately 43,000
persons were X-rayed as part of this campaign. Added to the fact that a large
number of residents in this area have, in addition, been X-rayed in nearby
London, where they work, it is safe to assume that the special measures
which have been taken may have made a significant contribution towards a reduction
of mortality from tuberculosis This is, however, only one aspect of
the measures against tuberculosis. The vaccination of older school children
(thirteen years and over) the constant search for unsuspected cases through
the tracing of contacts of known sources of infection and, as far as the housing
situation will allow, the amelioration of living conditions of tuberculous
families, have an equally important part to play.
During 1959 there were 17 deaths from cancer of the lung compared with 13
deaths in 1958 and 15 in 1957. Approximately half the cases occurred in persons
between the ages of 45 and 65 years of age and this mortality in the prime of
life is particularly deplorable at a time when the expectation of life in
general is said to be increasing There are no signs that recent publicity
relating to the association between heavy cigarette smoking and this form of
cancer, which is regarded by responsible authorities as proved has resulted
in any significant reduction of the smoking habit,
3.