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Scarlet fever, except in those few cases where it is followed by nephrite
is now merely a nuisance, the last fatal case being in 1956, and since when
have been 5,166 notified cases without a fatality.
Enteric fevers, i.e., typhoid and paratyphoid, have practically disappear
except for the infrequent case caused by a carrier. In 1896/1900 there was
annual average of 100 cases of enteric fever with over 12 deaths annually
The incidence of tuberculosis, since statistics were kept in 1911. shows
incidence now to be only between one quarter and one fifth and the mortality
be only one fourteenth of the earlier rates. The compulsory pasteurisation
milk has almost eliminated (bovine) tuberculosis.
Deaths from measles and whooping cough are now extremely rare. e.g,. threr
deaths from measles and one from whooping cough in the last eight years compare
with an average of 57 deaths each year from such diseases during the twenty [???]
years 1891/1915.
Diarrhoea and gastro enteritis, the chief causes of infant death in the [???]
19th century, and indeed until after the first World War, have now virtually
disappeared as causes of infant death. At its worst during the ten year [???]
1896/1906 there was an average of 109 deaths each year from these causes among
young children. There were only 3 deaths in all during the last eight years.
On the debit side is the increase in deaths from cancer, especially cancer
the lung the appearance of poliomyelitis (now fortunately being controlled
vaccination) and an increase in bacillary dysentery and food poisoning (both
to inadequate personal hygiene).
The table shows the progress in regard to vaccination and immunisation.
complete or substantial protection can be given now against smallpox, diphtheria
whooping cough, tuberculosis and poliomyelitis.
Following from the advent of the National Health Service, the attendances
welfare centres have tended to fall as the family doctor becomes more interested
in child welfare and health education.
Finally, the average number of home visits paid by the staff of the Department
as a whole, i.e. health visitors, home nurses, midwives and health inspectors
was no less than 117 758 during each of the last three years, that is. an average
of over one visit each year to every member of the population in the Borough
A. T. W. POWELL
July, 1959.