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2
H (1 ).
Public Health Department,
Council Offices,
Erith.
To:—
The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of
the Borough of Erith.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This report is again curtailed as in the previous two years
for purposes of national economy and consists therefore mainly
of statistics.
Speculation is essential to progress, but when submitted
as nothing more than a possibility and refutation is invited, it
cannot fail to fulfil a useful purpose. Premature attempts at
simplification, or over-simplification of many detailed observations
are manifestly dangerous and may result in crudely
expressed or even false conclusions. It is encouraging to note
that as far as can be ascertained no children under the age
of 5 years who had the complete course of immunisation against
whooping-cough developed the disease in the subsequent
epidemic that took place in tJhe town during this year. It
must be stated, however, that the number actually immunised
was relatively small and that the question of exposure to risk
has not been completely investigated.
The .number of children immunised against this serious
disease is not likely to be very spectacular while three to four
injections of the protecting material at monthly intervals have
to be given, with the frequent difficulties of "missed
appointments."
It has to be recorded that during 1941 scabies showed a
disturbing increase in prevalence over the previous year. 102
cases came to the notice of the Department compared with the
32 cases in 1940, and the incidence towards the end of the
year appears to be rising. Pre-school children and school cases
are generally accessible, but the infested adults in the family
concerned are a different problem. The Scabies Order of the
28th October, 1941, should help to remedy this, and a scheme