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Pamphlets on diphtheria prevention and copies of the broadcast of the Chief Medical Officer of the
Ministry of Health have been distributed in considerable quantities and notices and articles have been put in
the Press. The most effective method, however, of insuring the immunisation of the child population
is the following:—
When the Health Visitors visit children aged 9 months or over under the Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme they draw the attention of mothers to the facilities existing for immunisation against diphtheria in
order that they may think the matter over and have their children immunised at about one year of age if they
so desire. The Health Visitors have this question of diphtheria immunisation in mind at each subsequent visit
until the child has been immunised.
Leaflets concerning diphtheria prevention with form on the back for parent's signature agreeing to
have their children immunised have been sent to head teachers for distribution to their scholars. A high
percentage of these forms are being returned duly signed to the teachers and it would seem that early in 1943
a very considerable proportion of school children will have been immunised— in some schools 100 per cent.
When immunisation sessions are held at the schools the mothers frequently take the opportunity of bringing
any younger children not yet immunised and getting all their family dealt with at once.
Enteric Fever.— 1941.— Twenty-four cases were notified as Typhoid or Para-typhoid Fever during
1941, as against 6 in 1940, 3 in 1939, 11 in 1938 and 10 in 1937. The cases occurred throughout the year from
the end of February to the middle of October, 5 cases being notified in the Church End Ward, 3 each in
Roundwood, Stonebridge, Harlesden and Manor Wards, 2 each in Kensal Rise, Neasden and Cricklewood Wards
and 1 in Carlton Ward. All 24 cases were removed to hospital, 22 to the Willesden Municipal Hospital, 1 to
Central Middlesex County Hospital and 1 to Willesden General Hospital. Of the 22 cases removed to the
Willesden Municipal Hospital 14 were diagnosed as Para-typhoid Fever and recovered. In 1 case the Widal
reaction gave a positive result to both the Bacillus Typhosus and the Bacillus Para-typhosus B. The patient
recovered. Three cases were diagnosed as Influenza, 1 as Pleurisy and 1 as Constipation. All recovered. One
case was diagnosed as Pelvic Abscess and was transferred to the Emergency Medical Service side of the Hospital
and 1 was thought to be Pulmonary Tuberculosis and discharged home.
The case removed to the Central Middlesex County Hospital was clinically a case of Para-typhoid B.
although two Widal tests proved negative. The patient recovered.
The case removed to the Willesden General Hospital was diagnosed as Para-typhoid B. and recovered.
No deaths of Willesden residents from Typhoid or Para-typhoid fever were recorded during the year.
One death of a non-Willesden resident was recorded in the Central Middlesex County Hospital from Para-tvphoid
Fever B.
1942.— Seven cases were notified as Typhoid or Para-typhoid Fever during 1942, 2 in May, 1 in July,
1 in August, 1 in October, 1 in November and 1 in December. Six cases were removed to the Willesden
Municipal Hospital and one to the Central Middlesex County Hospital. Of the 6 cases removed to the Willesden
Municipal Hospital 1 was diagnosed as Para-typhoid Fever B. and recovered. Two were diagnosed Influenza,
1 as Enteritis, 1 as Pyuria, 1 as Pneumonia. All recovered. The case removed to the Central Middlesex County
Hospital was diagnosed as Para-typhoid Fever and recovered.
In addition 1 case admitted to Hospital as Cerebro-Spinal Fever was diagnosed in the Municipal Hospital
as Para-typhoid Fever B. The patient recovered.
No deaths of Willesden residents from Typhoid or Para-typhoid Fever were recorded in 1942.
Dysentery.—1941.—7 cases were notified. 1942.—17 cases were notified.
Malaria.—1941.— One case of Malaria was notified during 1941. The patient was an inmate of Horton
Emergency Hospital and Malaria was induced for therapeutic purposes.
1942.— One case of Malaria was notified in 1942, a woman of 77 years who had been in failing health for
several months. She was treated at home. She had never been abroad.
Infectious Diseases of the Central Nervous System.—Poliomyelitis and Polio-encephalitis,
Cerebro-spinal Fever and Encephalitis Lethargica.—1941.- 29 cases of these diseases were notified in
1941, as against 38 in 1940, 18 in 1939, 24 in 1938, 22 in 1937 and 14 in 1936. Seven proved fatal, giving
a fatality rate of 24 per cent, of notified cases. 28 cases were notified as Cerebro-Spinal Fever. Of these 28 cases
25 proved to be Cerebro-Spinal Fever and 3 were found in hospital not to be suffering from Cerebro-Spinal Fever ;
one of these was diagnosed as Encephalitis, one as Hysteria and one, which proved fatal, was certified after postmortem
as Convulsions due to teething. In addition, 1 case which was admitted to the Willesden Municipal
Hospital as Measles was diagnosed after admission as Cerebro-Spinal Fever and one case notified as
Poliomyelitis was diagnosed in hospital as Cerebro-Spinal Fever.

Six of these 27 cases which proved to be Cerebro-Spinal fever died. These patients were aged 2 months,
4 years, 19 years, 53 years, 79 years and 80 years.