London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES
In 1956 the number of infectious disease notifications was low. After a high incidence
of measles in the year 1955 notifications of measles were only 61 in the year 1956. Although
this was the chief reason for the drop in notifications from 1,768 to 477, the pneumonia
figure also fell, from 145 to 94 and the number of notifications of poliomyelitis dropped
from 28 in 1955 to 4 in 1956, two of these being finally confirmed as not poliomyelitis.
There were no notifications of diphtheria. Sonne dysentery increased during the year,
but the increase was due to an outbreak confined entirely to St. Bernard's Hospital.
Particulars with regard to individual infectious diseases are mentioned specially under
separate headings.
Monthly Bulletins of Incidence of Infectious Disease
These bulletins were circulated monthly to all general practitioners in the Borough,
and, in addition to information with regard to infectious diseases occurring during the previous
month, any topical matter, or incident of mutual interest to general practitioners and
the Public Health Service, was also included; for instance, Home Accidents statistics,
poliomyelitis prevention, Occupation scheme for Old Age Pensioners, etc.
Measles
There were no deaths from measles. The following table shows the trend of notifications during the past 10 years.
| Year | No. of Cases | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 334 | |
| 1948 | 825 | 1 |
| 1949 | 194 | - |
| 1950 | 701 | |
| 1951 | 1,129 | |
| 1952 | 528 | |
| 1953 | 931 | 1 |
| 1954 | 41 | |
| 1955 | 1,329 | |
| 1956 | 61 |
Poliomyelitis
Four notifications of suspected anterior poliomyelitis were received in 1956; 2 paralytic
and 2 non-paralytic. The non-paralytic cases were confirmed as not being poliomyelitis,
but the two paralytic cases were confirmed positive.
Both positive cases made a fair recovery.
Particulars of the surviving paralytic cases notified since 1949, are as follows:—
| 1956: Case A. | Paralysis limbs. | Adult male. Residual weakness arms and legs. Having physiotherapy. |
| Case B. | Paralysis left arm. | Adult female. Residual weakness remaining. Having physiotherapy. |
| 1955: Case B. | Paralysis of left thigh muscles. | Girl aged 3 years. Recovering well. Still some slight residual weakness in the left leg. Receiving physiotherapy treatment. |
| Case E. | Paralysis of left leg. | Boy aged 6 years. Still some weakness of left leg, but making progress. |
| 1952: Case D. | Paralysis of both legs. | Boy now aged 7 years. Full recovery of power. Some shortening of right leg and foot, but this has decreased during past year. Still making progress. |
| Case F. | Paralysis of limbs and trunk. | Adult female. Died in 1956. |
| Case G. | Paralysis of both legs. | Boy now aged 16 years. Continues to make progress. Walks well. Has calliper for right leg, but can do without it for considerable periods. |
| 1950: Case A. | Paralysis in left leg. | Adult male. Residual partial paralysis left leg. At work. Condition stationary. |