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informed of the latest developments in this field.
I also try to ensure that we are all working along
the same lines. I am very happy to be able to say
that these efforts appear to have been successful.
One or two other points regarding
infectious diseases might be mentioned. No cases
of diphtheria were notified in the District during
1959. The last death took place approximately 12
years ago. We must not, however, allow ourselves
to be lulled into any sense of false security by such
a happy statement. Only this year, a number of
cases of diphtheria occurred in a Borough not many
miles from Friern Barnet, This limited outbreak
was particularly interesting from two aspects.
In the first place, it was found that
those few children who had been immunised and who
still developed the disease in a mild form, recovered
quickly and with no ill-effects. On the other
hand, the single death which occurred took place in a
child who had not been immunised at any time. In
other words, the value of immunisation was strengthened
since, although only a few cases were involved, it was
clearly shown that the few children who developed
diphtheria after immunisation came to no harm, but
merely suffered a comparatively minor illness.
The second lesson to be learnt from this
outbreak of diphtheria - and it was not the only outbreak
of diphtheria which occurred in England and Wales during
1959 - points to the fact that the organism which causes
diphtheria still exists and is quite able to strike.
In short, although it may be true to state that many
recently qualified general practitioners have never
seen a case of diphtheria, our campaign of immunisation
mast be continued relentlessly.
Tuberculosis.
A broad classification of the new cases
of tuberculosis notified during the past 3 years
(excluding those notified from Friern Hospital) in
relation to employment was:-
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