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than act as a post office I No one denies that the
infectious diseases picture to-day is radically different
from what it was only a few decades ago. One has only
to look at the use which is being made of our old
isolation hospitals to realise this fact. Yet the
pattern of notification has altered very little.
One appreciates that tnis is an enormous problem with
many ramifications. But it surely represents a
problem which can and should be vigorously tackled
on a national level.
Diphtheria.
No cases of diphtheria were notified in the
district during 1958. The last death took place
approximately eleven years ago.
Our campaign of immunisation against
diphtheria has been carried on throughout the year
along the general lines set out in my Annual Report
for 1957. We are still continuing to give separate
protection against diphtheria and pertussis (whooping
cough), in the belief that the protection afforded by
vaccination against poliomyelitis is not yet sufficiently
advanced to remove the possible danger of provocation
poliomyelitis. I am very pleased to be able to
report that Friern Barnet mothers have freely accepted
our advice and are attending with their infants as often
as is necessary at clinics or at their own doctors'
surgeries, to have their children protected against
diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) separately,
and also vaccinated against smallpox. As the
necessary number of visits, including vaccination against
poliomyelitis, does not entail more than One visit each
month to a clinic or to the family doctor, it can
scarcely be said that an intolerable burden is being
placed on the shoulders of mothers or children.
Detailed records kept in the Area Health
Office show that 93% of Friern Barnet children who
had reached the age of 2 years by the end of 1958 had
been fully protected against diphtheria. These
figures are eminently satisfactory, and speak for
themselves. Indeed, they represent levels of
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