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11
Two probable explanations for the comparatively high
incidence among hospital deliveries may be suggested.
Firstly very careful selection is made by the Local Health
Authority's medical officers and by the hospital staff
before expectant mothers are allocated a hospital bed and
highest priority is given to those where labour is expected
to be difficult or complicated. Consequently there is a
higher rate of abnormal deliveries in hospital. Surgical
interference in such cases adds considerably to the risk
of a post partum rise of temperature.
Secondly, in spite of the most stringent aseptic precautions
there is still a definite risk of cross infection
in hospital - a risk which is not run by women confined
in their own homes. Rarely is infection nowadays of a
really serious nature thanks to the discovery of antibiotics.
SCARLET FEVER.
232 cases were notified compared with 95 in 1957.
SMALLPOX.
There were no cases. Two families were kept under
surveillance following their disembarkation from a ship
in which a case had occurred in a Lascar seaman. All
members of the families had been vaccinated and they
remained in good health.
The number of infants in Ealing vaccinated in their
first year of life in 1958 was 1,727 which represents
approximately 66%.
TUBERCULOSIS.
There were 97 pulmonary notifications, 65 males, 32
females, compared with 113, 80 males, and 33 females in
1957. Non-pulmonary cases consisted of 5 males and 3
females. There were 10 pulmonary deaths and no nonpulmonary
deaths.
WHOOPING COUGH.
85 notifications were received compared with 131 in
1957. Immunisation against Whooping Cough now consists of
three injections and is completed early in the second
year of life. 1,502 infants were immunised against whooping
cough in Ealing in 1958, which it is estimated represents
56%.