London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Finchley 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finchley]
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The following table shows the number of cases notified during the past five years:
| 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scarlet Fever | 132 | 99 | 93 | 69 | 68 |
| Smallpox | — | — | — | — | — |
| Enteric Fever | — | — | — | — | — |
| Meningococcal Infection | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — |
| Poliomyelitis | 3 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 48 | 72 | 48 | 49 | 38 |
| Measles | 730 | 647 | 577 | 857 | 99 |
| Whooping Cough | 361 | 240 | 273 | 165 | 91 |
Diphtheria
It is now 9 years since a case of Diphtheria occurred in
Finchley. This most satisfactory state can only be maintained if
parents ensure that their children are immunised.
During the year 40 children were immunised by General
Practitioners and 52 by Medical Officers of the Local Health
Authority. In addition, 695 children were immunised with a combined
diphtheria and whooping cough prophylactic.
Three hundred and seventy-six children were given "booster"
doses of diphtheria prophylactic alone, and 116 children were
given "booster" doses of combined diphtheria and whooping cough
prophylactic.
Scarlet Fever
There were 68 cases of Scarlet Fever, one less than in the
previous year. The known cases were mild in character and there
is little doubt that in a number of others the illness was so slight
as to escape detection altogether. There were no deaths.
Poliomyelitis
There was one case of Poliomyelitis which occurred in October.
Acute polioencephalitis was diagnosed. The patient, a girl aged
2\ years, died before admission to hospital.
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