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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Southall 1954

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]

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Table: In the following table is shown the number of children at 31st December, 1954,who had completed a course of immunisation against diphtheria at any time before that date:—

In the following table is shown the number of children at 31st December, 1954,who had completed a course of immunisation against diphtheria at any time before that date:—

Age at 31.12.54:Under 11-45-910-14Total under 15
Number immunised1051,9443,7453,1578,951

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There is a sizeable increase in the number of children receiving a full course of primary
immunisation during 1954, the figure being 627 as compared with 536 the previous year.
The number of children receiving a secondary reinforcing injection fell by 132, but it is satisfactory
to note that in the past few years the immunisation state of the children under 15
has improved, i.e. the proportion who have received at least one successful course of antidiphtheria
immunisation injections during their lifetime. The figures are respectively:—
8,194 for 1951, 8,138 for 1952, 8,872 for 1953 and 8,951 for 1954.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
No cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified during the year.
Distribution of Infectious Disease Notifications
For the incidence of various infectious diseases notified during the year, under age
groups and locality, see Appendix, Tables VII and VIII.
Infectious Disease Visits
During the year, the Sanitary Inspectors paid 735 visits with reference to cases of infectious
disease. In addition, the County Health Visitors did a certain amount of home and
school visiting in connection with infectious diseases.
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
The number of new cases notified during the year was 71.
Other Forms of Tuberculosis
The number of new cases notified during the year was 7.
Of the total notifications, 7 were received from Medical Practitioners; 55 from the
Uxbridge Chest Clinic; 2 from General Hospitals; and 14 from St. Bernard's Hospital.
Deaths from Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis of the respiratory system, 12; other forms, 1.
For details of new cases notified and deaths in 1954, see Appendix, Table IX, and for
the occupation of new cases see Appendix, Table X.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925
Public Health Act, 1936, Section 172
Action under these powers was not necessary during the year.
The number of new notifications fell from 91 in 1953 to 78 in 1954. This constitutes
a record low figure for notifications of this disease.
The number of deaths from tuberculosis was 13, the corresponding number for 1953
being 12. Of the 13 deaths, 6 had not previously been notified as cases of tuberculosis.
The number of cases notified is not yet so small that very stringent precautions
against infection can be diminished as there still occur sad cases where two, three, or even
four members of the same family have become infected one after the other, and there still
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