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No cases of smallpox or typhoid occurred in the Borough.
However, there was one case of paratyphoid B which recovered,
and seven confirmed cases of poliomyelitis (5 paralytic and
2 non-paralytic), with no deaths.
Tuberculosis notifications increased from 149 to 180,
but deaths were seven less than last year,
Certain types of cancer, particularly lung cancer, show
an increase. In England and Wales the death rate of lung
cancer has doubled since 1941. In Stepney, deaths from
cancer of the lung increased from 44 last year to 53 this
year? and 90% were males. The correlation between cigarette
smoking and cancer of the lung continues to exercise the minds
of research workers both here and in the United States.
Regulations known as the Parrots (Prohibition of Import)
Regulations were introduced in 1930 to prevent the spread of
psittacosis,- be-lieved to be due to the importation of infected
parrots. The regulations were revoked in January,
1952, but similar regulations were reimposed this year in
February (Parrots and Miscellaneous Birds (Prohibition of
Importation) Order, 1952), because of some recurrence of
psittacosis.
Human psittacosis is not a notifiable disease, but 52
cases were diagnosed in England and Wales in 1952, with one
death, and 33 cases in 1953* with no deaths. The cases
showed. contact usually with parrots or budgerigars, but also
in a few cases with pigeons, chickens, etc.
The care of aged persons continues to be a problem, and
our difficulties cannot be better expressed than in the words
of Dr.G.Nisbet, Medical Officer of Health for the Northamptonshire
(Soke of Peterborough) County Council. Dr.Nisbet
writes
"In previous generations, children getting married set
"up their household near to the parental home, and were
"therefore able to look after and care for their parents
"in old age. Now. with housing estates on the periphery
"of the town, distant from the parents' home, and with
"the smaller families, combined often, I am sad to say,
"with complete disinterest, many aged folk have to depend
"on assistance arranged by the local health authority.
"This is of material help, but will not solve the problem.
"The days when granny or grandpa had an honoured place in
"the inglenook by the fireplace are truly gone. Too often,
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