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Infectious Diseases
Table IV which lists the new cases of Tuberculosis shows that there
were only 18 during the year. The average for ten years is 33.2 and
as previously mentioned there is definitely a general decrease in the
incidence of this disease.
Table I listing the infectious diseases which have occurred in the
district during the year is very low when compared with 1959. As
the diseases which cause the variation of these figures, i.e. Scarlet
Fever, Whooping Cough, Measles and Chicken Pox are comparatively
minor ailments of childhood, the total figure does not have any
significance particularly when Measles appears to run in cycles and
can vary greatly. This year the figure of 17 does not appear to be
a true figure for the district as the previous lowest over the last ten
years was 242.
The number of cases of Dysentery which occuring seem to be
generally on an increase. However, by far the greater number of
these are Sonne Dysentery which is a comparatively mild disease
although in some cases is very persistent.
There has been only three cases of Food Poisoning and these were
isolated and had no connection outside family circles.
INTERNATIONAL VACCINATION CERTIFICATES
At the end of 1952 a new form was introduced for International
Vaccination Certificates requiring authorisation of the signature of
the doctor performing the vaccination or inoculation of persons
proceeding overseas. During the year over a hundred such certificates
were authenticated and marked with the internationally agreed stamp.
LABORATORY FACILITIES
These facilities are provided by the Central Public Health Laboratory
Service. The Service has been of the greatest assistance to the
Department through its laboratories at Colindale and at Coppetts
Wood Hospital. This assistance, and the close co-operation which has
continued for so many years between my Department and the Laboratory
Service, is gratefully acknowledged.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the
Laboratory Service for the Department during 1960:—
Nose and throat swabs 7
Faeces 283
Sputum 5
Urine 2
Milk 92
Ice Cream 92
Water 11
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