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Smallpox. *
No cases of Smallpox were notified during the year and it was not
necessary for me to take action under the Public Health (Smallpox)
Regulations, 1917.
Frequent notifications are received from Port and Airport Authorities
of persons coming into the Borough who may have been in contact
with smallpox. Observation for the necessary period is kept on such
persons by officers of the Public Health Department,
The number of children successfully vaccinated or re-vaccinated
against smallpox at London County Council clinics, during the year,
was 888.
Tuberculosis.
The number of primary notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis
received was 135 compared with 136 last year, and the number of
non-pulmonary cases notified was 14 compared with 9 last year. The
mortality rate for the year for pulmonary tuberculosis was 17 and for
non-pulmonary nil per 100,000 population, compared with 15 and nil
respectively in 1958. (For details of register and notifications see
page 75).
Onehundred-and-fiftyfive visits were paid by the Public Health
Inspectors to the homes of persons suffering from tuberculosis and
appropriate action taken where public health nuisances were found to
exist.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925,
These Regulations provide that persons suffering from tuberculosis
of the respiratory tract shall not be employed in the handling of milk
or milk receptacles. Power is given to the Council to cause such persons
to discontinue their employment. It was not found necessary during the
year to take action under the Regulations.
Tuberculosis Care Committee.
The Tuberculosis Care Committee' on which are represented voluntary
and official bodies, and whose meetings are attended by the Medical
Officer of Health, continues to supply help to tuberculous persons
and to relatives who require assistance which cannot be obtained from
official sources, or where urgency or special circumstances indicate
that the voluntary sources of the Care Committee are preferable.
Although tuberculosis is slowly but surely being conquered, the
public should realise that much help is still needed to be given to
persons suffering from the disease.
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