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Once again, Friern Barnet showed a relatively high
proportion of pertussis notifications. This is not
surprising, as the level of measles and pertussis notifications
often, indeed almost invariably go hand in hand.
We have continued our policy of immunisation, both
against pertussis alone and diphtheria and pertussis combined.
Although pertussis immunisation does not give a
full guarantee of protection, it is generally agreed that
efficient immunisation will modify an attack. This
modified attack, which represents a merely trifling illness,
is then followed by life-long immunity. Although there
is an obvious danger that these modified attacks may go
unnoticed, thus helping to keep infection alive and so
passing the infection on to other children, available
evidence would seem to show that our present programme of
immunisation coupled with health education, are correct,
and that it should be vigorously pursued.
It can at least be said that Friern Burnet parents
show a decided preference for combined immunisation, as
against immunisation against diphtheria and pertussis at
different times. The choice is left entirely to the
parent, although we do recommend the combined method,
unless any contra-indications.exist.
Food Poisoning (including Sonne Dysentery),
Three cases of food poisoning and 17 of dysentery
were reported during the year, none of these cases being
severe. I must again point out that these cases represent
notifications, and do not fully indicate the incidence
either of food poisoning or of dysentery within the district.
None the less they are extremely useful for comparative
purposes, as it can presumably be accepted that the factors
which militate against the complete notification of food
poisoning and dysentery do not materially alter from year
to year.
Altogether, this has been an extremely quiet year
so far as food poisoning and dysentery were concerned,1 No
outbreaks of food poisoning were reported, while Sonne
dysentery remained at a low level.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
No case of puerperal pyrexia was notified during
the year.
Having regard to the fact that, in the vast
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