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All the cases reported are very thoroughly investigated. This
entails a good deal of work, and many visits by our Sanitary
Inspectors. I hope to be able to review the position in detail
during 1953, in an effort to arrive at a programme which should
ensure adequate safeguards, without throwing an unnecessary
burden on the shoulders of the Public Health Department.
Although the control of food poisoning is obviously important, and
is a matter in which we are most keenly interested, I am at the
same time anxious that we should not pursue a policy which may
divert part of our time and energy into unproductive channels.
Puerperal Pyrexia
Two cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified during the year,
as against 3 in 1951. No deaths were attributable to puerperal
causes.
Smallpox
Although no cases of smallpox occurred in Wood Green during
1952, several doubtful rashes were reported.
The occurrence of cases of a mild type of smallpox in
Lancashire early in 1952, and the later appearance of severe Asiatic
smallpox in Lancashire and Yorkshire, has once again drawn
attention to the fact that the vaccination state of this country is
most unsatisfactory. The County Council is now proposing to
offer vaccination at selected Welfare Centres. At the time of
writing this report, the system is already in operation in Wood
Green. We are constantly encouraging mothers to have their
infants vaccinated, and I have recently reviewed our time table
of vaccination and immunisation, so that these necessary safeguards
can be provided during the first year of life without unduly
upsetting the infant or the family concerned. Although the policy
of vaccination is under the control of the County Council, the
control of smallpox itself is vested in the Borough Council. We
are therefore intimately concerned with such measures as are
directed towards controlling the incidence and spread of this
disease.
Tuberculosis
Fifty-nine cases of tuberculosis (52 pulmonary and 7 nonpulmonary)
were notified during the year, as against 69 in 1951,
and 83 in 1950. Of the 59 new cases, nineteen were transfers from
other districts, 40 cases being new notifications.
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