London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Romford 1950

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Romford]

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28
(g) Scarlet Fever.
This disease was in epidemic form during the latter part of
1949, and continued during 1950. During this latter year there
were 174 notifications.
On the whole, the condition was very slight in this area.
(h) Smallpox.
No cases occurred in the district, but a few possible contacts
of cases were kept under surveillance for the recognised period.
Table 16 gives the statistics relative to vaccination, as recorded
by the general practitioners of the district.

TABLE 10

Vaccinated:
Under one year of age343
Between the ages of one and five years71
Between the ages of five and fifteen years52
Over fifteen years58
Re-Vaccinated:
Under one year of age-
Between the ages of one and five years1
Between the ages of five and fifteen years21
Over fifteen years128

(i) Tuberculosis.
(i) An interesting innovation, towards the latter part of the
year, was a research measure, carried out by the Medical Research
Council into the value of the anti-Tuberculosis vaccine, B.C.G.
In brief, the scheme is as follows :—
Secondary Modern School-leavers are selected, and it is done
entirely on a voluntary basis.
All children taking part are given the benefit of regular supervision,
over three to five years, by x-ray, skin tests, and other examinations.
The skin test is used to show whether the child has, at
any time, had contact with the germ of tuberculosis. The chest
x-ray indicates if there is any disease of the lungs. All the children
are followed up with the greatest care. At regular intervals, the
chest x-ray and other examinations are repeated. In addition, any
children known to be in contact with tuberculosis, or found to have
the disease, has the full care provided by the Chest Clinic Service.