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It is always dangerous to draw any
lasting conclusions from limited statistics relating
only to a two-yearly period. None the less, it is
extremely interesting to compare the Friern Barnet
figures relating to 1958 and 1959, since very obvious
differences are immediately apparent.
The number of cases of measles notified during
1959was very much higher than the figure for 1958.
It has long been known that measles appears in epidemic
form approximately every two years. The substantial
increase in measles notifications during 1959 was due
to the fact that that year was a "measles year".
It is most encouraging to note that not a
single case of pertussis (whooping cough) was notified
during 1959. Although no statistical evidence is
yet available, I am personally convinced that the
intensive campaign for the protection of Friern Barnet
children against pertussis (whooping cough) by
inoculation is having a beneficial effect.
Scarlet fever notifications dropped to a
very low level. As is the case with measles, it is
perhaps more important to remember that the type of
scarlet fever which we have met with since the war,
is fortunately much more mild than the disease which
we remember so well some twenty-five years ago.
Neither measles nor scarlet fever has much more than
nuisance value these days, removal to hospital being
almost entirely confined to those children who have
to be sent to hospital because both parents are at work.
None the less, as I have pointed out before, we must
be on guard against the return of the more virulent
type of infection which we had to face between the wars.
Notifications of dysentery and food
poisoning rose, although not to an alarming extent.
I would again draw attention to the fact that these
notifications mean very little. We know that many
cases of Sonnei dysentery and food poisoning are never
reported to the Public Health Department; many cases
are never even treated by a doctor. Dysentery and
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