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62
infants school where spread out over the spring term there were seven cases,
three of these occurring in one week. In the summer term six pupils in
the infants department of Roxbourne School were notified and a further
seven in the following term; but on two occasions only were there as
many as two cases in any one week. The only other suggestive groupings
were one of six cases spread over four weeks at Glebe School, and three
cases in a fortnight at Grimsdyke School.
SMALLPOX
Although it is now rare for there to be a case of smallpox in the
country, each year much work has to be done in following up the contacts
of cases who have come into the country by aeroplane or less commonly
by boat. Any such contacts are visited up to sixteen days from the date
of their last known contact or possible contact, a length of time which
covers the incubation period.
Although the vaccination of infants was at one time obligatory
and special officers were appointed to see that this was done, the many
parents who discovered they had consciences which did not enable them
to approve of this practice resulted in only about one in three infants being
treated. The situation deteriorated after the compulsory element was
removed by the operation of the National Health Service Act, but it has
since then started to improve. In this district the introduction of the
arrangements by which treatment can be provided for babies brought
to the infant welfare centres has considerably helped matters. In 1956,
1947 persons living in the district were vaccinated against smallpox
for the first time. Of these 1,487 were under one year of age and 148
were over one but under two years of age; 702 persons were re-vaccinated.
2,791 babies were born in that year. The number of vaccinations of
those under one year of age was therefore fifty three per cent, of the births.
Of those under one year of age who were vaccinated, 672 were treated at
the infant welfare centres.
ENTERIC FEVER
Each year small numbers of notifications of enteric infection are
received relating to those living in this district. Very rarely is the disease
typhoid fever; most often it is paratyphoid infection, the commonest
organism being para B.
This year two notifications were received. The first was of a boy of
fourteen who fell ill with typhoid fever in April. It was not possible
to trace the origin of infection; the laboratory examination could not
afford any clue as the organism was of a common type. The second case
was that of a girl who came from Ireland in August already incubating
the disease.
DYSENTERY
Although 28 persons were thought to be suffering from this complaint,
in nine the diagnosis was changed to that of some other condition.
In a number of the other cases, bacteriological examination did no
confirm the diagnosis made on clinical grounds.