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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 relating to infectious diseases might be
mentioned:
For the twelfth year in succession, no case of diphtheria was
notified in the Borough. The last death took place approximately
17 years ago. We must not, however, allow ourselves to be lulled
into a 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 Southgate. 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 diphtheria, 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 that many recently
qualified general practitioners have never seen a case of diphtheria,
our campaign of immunisation must be continued relentlessly. The
fact that approximately 95% of Southgate children up to the age of
2 years were protected against diphtheria by immunisation at the
end of 1959 is highly encouraging, since it is most unlikely that
these figures can be bettered in any part of the country.
Tuberculosis.
25 cases of tuberculosis (24 pulmonary and 1 non-pulmonary)
were notified during the year, as against 30 in 1958.
Distribution of cases notified among the various wards was as
follows:—
North-east
14
North-west
1
Middle
2
South
8
40