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any factor or factors which encourage the origin or spread of
infection and disease. In other words, epidemiology can now be
taken to cover all the various and widely differing factors with which
lack of health is known to be associated.
When we remember that housing in one form or another,
underlies and materially affects many such factors, it will be seen
that it is much easier to make a statement such as this than to carry
it into practical effect. None the less, the Public Health Department
will continue to investigate the matter from the widest possible angle,
and will bring to the notice of the Public Health Committee any
condition or conditions which can and should be remedied. That
is one of the reasons why I have made it a practice to comment each
month on epidemiology in my report to the Public Health Committee.
I trust that the practice meets with approval.
Diphtheria
For the fifth year in succession, no case of diphtheria was
notified in the borough. The last death from diphtheria took place
in 1939. These figures are evidence of the remarkable change in
respect to this disease which has come about within recent years.
Few will deny that the great increase in the popularity of immunisation
has been largely responsible for this happy state of affairs.
It is not, of course, claimed that immunisation alone has produced
this transformation. We know, however, that the decline in the
incidence and fatality of diphtheria has been coincident with the
extension of immunisation within these islands.
Although immunisation against diphtheria is the concern of
the Middlesex County Council in Wood Green, I feel sure that thg
Borough Council would wish to be aware of the steps which are
being taken to implement this policy in the borough. Very briefly,
the measures now adopted are as follows:
1. Immunisation is available each week at White Hart Lane
Clinic and at Gordon Road Clinic. Immunisation against
diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), or diphtheria and pertussis
combined is carried out at these clinics, while reinforcing
("boosting") injections are also given. Mothers are encouraged
to avail themselves of the facilities offered. The choice of
immunisation, i.e. diphtheria alone or combined inoculation, is left
entirely to the decision of the mothers, although the Health Visitors
and Assistant Medical Officers concerned naturally give such advice
as appears desirable.
2. All maintained and private schools in the borough are visited
once each year. These visits are mostly for the purpose of carrying
out reinforcing ("boosting") injections, although children
requiring immunisation for the first time also receive attention.
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