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53
Pneumonia (all forms).
Altogether there were forty-three cases of pneumonia notified
during the year as against one hundred and six in 1955.
There were seventy deaths from pneumonia. This figure
includes people who died in other areas but who are normally
resident in the Urban District.
Scarlet Fever.
Notifications reached the low level of forty during the year and
this despite the fact that it is no longer the routine practice to exclude
child contacts from school. Six cases were admitted to hospital,
but the general run of cases is now so mild and uncomplicated that
normally very little anxiety is occasioned by this illness. In
addition, some cases are so mild and atypical that extreme difficulty
may be experienced in arriving at a definite diagnosis, and it may
well be that cases are occurring which do not receive medical attention,
having been considered merely as a slight throat infection.
There were no "return cases," and no deaths occurred from
this disease in the area during 1956.
Smallpox and Vaccination.
Another year has passed without any cases of this disease, but
it is still an ever present potential menace against which our defences
must always be kept deployed. The services of the smallpox consultant
were called upon on one occasion during the year, when a
doubtful case was brought to my attention.
The policy of offering re-vaccination annually to all members
of the staff of the Public Health Department has been maintained.
It is interesting to note that during the year as many as 330
International Certificates of Vaccination have passed through the
hands of the department for purposes of authenticating doctor's
signatures.
I am indebted to the County Medical Officer for the following
figures showing the current position with regard to vaccination in
Orpington.
A total of 1,006 residents received primary vaccination and 172
re-vaccination during 1956.