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
Hendon 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]
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7
This was, however, a case of an adult who contracted the
disease while temporarily residing in another district. It is
reasonable to assume that the continued low incidence of
diphtheria is largely influenced by the high percentage of
children within the Borough who have been immunised against
this disease, as illustrated in the following Table:—
TABLE IV.
| Year. | No. of Cases of Diphtheria notified. | No. of Deaths from Diphtheria. | Accumulated total of immunised children. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 138 | 9 | 27 |
| 1936 | 86 | 2 | 130 |
| 1937 | 121 | 7 | 381 |
| 1938 | 195 | 4 | 725 |
| 1939 | 150 | 3 | 1124 |
| 1940 | 70 | 3 | 1729 |
| 1941 | 58 | 1 | 5868 |
| 1942 | 38 | 2 | 11068 |
| 1943 | 31 | 2 | 15506 |
| 1944 | 17 | — | 16970 |
| 1945 | 20 | 1 | 19555 |
| 1946 | 33* | — | 21478 |
| 1947 | 10* | — | 23890 |
| 1948 | 8 | 1 | 26346 |
*of these the diagnosis was confirmed in
8 cases in 1946, and 8 cases in 1947.
ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS:
I am glad to report there was a lower incidence of anterior
poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) than in the preceding year;
5 cases were notified, and in 4 of those the diagnosis was