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conditions make the change inevitable. We must face up to th
issue, in the knowledge that, unless the problem is tackled in ai
adequate manner, a heritage of ill-health and suffering will remaii
for many generations to come.
To conclude on a slightly more cheerful note, it may be pointei
out that the information contained in the register of tuberculosi
cases set out on page 51 is not so gloomy as might appear at firs
sight. Although the totals have increased, this has been very largel;
brought about by the addition of cases to our register from outsid'
Southgate. In spite of our acute housing shortage, it would appea
that Southgate still retains the reputation of being a health;
Borough, a Borough in which a return to health may be more favour
ably anticipated than in other areas. This has resulted in cases o
early tuberculosis moving into the district, where accommodatioi
could be found. In turn, this has meant additions to our register
We have no reason to complain of these additions which, as I hav
just indicated, actually redound to Southgate's credit.
Other Infectious Diseases.—The remaining infectious disease
notified during the year call for little comment. Typhoid fever anc
dysentery were absent from the Borough, while the total of cerebro
spinal fever and acute anterior poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis
cases was small. Pneumonia notifications showed a decrease o
thirteen over the previous year.
Immunisation against Diphtheria.—Nine hundred am
thirty seven children attended for immunisation during 1946 at th'
weekly clinic held at the Town Hall or at the schools visited during
the year. In addition, 672 children received reinforcing injection:
during the year. Totals (new cases) for the past five years are a
follows:
1941 2,440
1942 1,762
1943 906
1944 558
1945 792
Recent returns show that 48.3 per cent, of Southgate children unde
five years of age have been immunised against diphtheria, either b;
the Council's officers or by their own doctors; the correspondin;
figure for children between the age of five and fifteen is 71.5 per cent
These figures are satisfactory, but they are still not good enough
It might, however, be pointed out that, if accurate returns wer<
obtainable from general practitioners, and if the considerable
number of children moving in^o the district and immunised else
where could be added, they would almost certainly be better.
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