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One hundred and twenty-five scarlet fever cases were admitted during the last quarter
of the year, when scarlet fever reached minor epidemic proportions. The disease was of a
mild type, and complications were not numerous, but for several weeks the hospital was
very full, and heavy demands were made on the staff during this time.
Diphtheria.
There were 27 cases of diphtheria notified as compared with 22 in 1942. All the
cases were removed to the Isolation Hospital. There were no deaths from diphtheria of
residents during the year.
There was a big reduction in the number of cases of diphtheria notified in 1942, as
compared with 1941. There has not been a further reduction in 1943. The types of cases
were very mild, and there were very few complications, and these of only a temporary nature.
It seems as if the practice of diphtheria immunisation is now producing results in the
improvement of diphtheria statistics, though the time that this can be positively ascertained
has not yet come, because of the periodicity which is associated with infectious disease
epidemics.
Diphtheria Prevention.
The number of children immunised during 1943 is disappointingly low. Certainly
a big proportion of children whose parents consent to have immunisation done had been
dealt with during the campaign, but there is still a large proportion of children between
1 and 15 years in Southall, who have not been immunised. The Health Visitors have been
making a special point of mentioning immunisation, when on their home visits, and during
the year a scheme was instituted for sending an attractive birthday card to children reaching
the age of one year, and the birthday card was also a reminder of the need for immunisation
against diphtheria. As compared with the number of children born in 1943, the number
of new cases immunised, i.e., 681, constitutes approximately 80 per cent. Diphtheria
immunisation is carried out on Monday afternoons at the Branch Health Centre, and on
Thursday afternoons at the Manor House clinic.

During the year the number of sessions for diphtheria immunisation at Council
clinics was increased by the commencing of a weekly clinic on Monday afternoons at the
Branch Health Centre.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
There was one case of ophthalmia neonatorum notified in 1943.
Acute Poliomyelitis.
No case was notified in the Borough during the year.
Notifiable Diseases during the Year.
For the incidence of various infectious diseases, excluding tuberculosis, notified
during the year, under age groups, locality, and certain cases occurring among school
children, see Appendix, Tables XXV, XXVI, and XXVII.
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