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is very high indeed, it can, I think be claimed that the possibility
of a diphtheria epidemic or even a limited outbreak among
Wood Green children is definitely low.
Scarlet Fever
Twenty-six cases of scarlet fever were notified during the
year, as against 61 in 1954. The totals for the past four years
have been 93, 66, 61 and 26 respectively.
Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis
Five cases of acute anterior poliomyelitis were notified in
1955 as against one case during the previous year. Of these four
cases, three were paralytic and one non paralytic, The number of
cases notified during each of the previous 5 years was 1, 3, 6,
1 and 4.
It will now be common knowledge that a scheme for inoculating
certain age groups against poliomyelitis has been drawn up,using
the British type vaccine which is said to be in advance of any
vaccine yet used in other parts of the world At the time of writing
this report 116 Wood Green children have already been inoculated
with no untoward effects of any kind Inoculations are, of
course being carried out by Area Health staff, but I know that
the Council will await with interest the results of the first
batch of inoculations when these are available.
Measles
As noted elsewhere,635 cases of measles were notified during
the year as against 29 cases in 1954 Admission to hospital was
not required in any case, again an indication of the mild character
of the disease
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Twenty eight cases of pertussis were notified during the year
as against 80 in 1954
The fall in the incidence of this disease will be shown when
the figures appertaining to the past five years are considered.
These were 127 89 202 80 and 28 respectively.
It may be that the widespread adoption by parents of the com
bined method of immunisation for their children is having an
effect, This combined method, whereby children can be inoculated
against diphtheria and pertussis at the same time has been more
or less accepted by parents attending County Council clinics as
standard procedure I understand from general practitioners that
they are finding the same thing It would certainly be dangerous
to draw any lasting conclusion from the figures set out above
but they are at least heartening and would seem to show that pres
ent policy can be justified.
Food Poisoning (including Sonne Dysentery)
Twenty-seven cases of food poisoning and 34 cases of dysentery
were reported in 1955, as against totals of 24 and 41 respectively
during the previous year. I would, however, repeat the warning
which I have sounded on several occasions previously, that these
totals may be highly deceptive. We can be sure of only one thing,
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