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There was a slight rise in the number of children receiving primary immunisation against
diphtheria during the year. A rough estimate of the percentage of immunised children can
be obtained by using the 1951 Census figure of the number of children age 0-15 living in
Southall. This indicates that approximately 73% is likely to be the figure in Southall for
protected children, still slightly below the agreed safety margin of 75%.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
No case of ophthalmia neonatorum was notified during the year.
Tuberculosis
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
The number of new cases notified during the year was 80.
Other Forms of Tuberculosis
The number of new cases notified during the year was 5.
Of the total notifications, 7 were received from medical practitioners; 55 from the
Uxbridge Chest Clinic; 9 from General Hospitals; and 14 from St. Bernard's Hospital.
Deaths from Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis of the respiratory system, 9; other forms, nil.
For details of new cases notified and deaths in 1956, 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, 19.6, Section 172
Action under these powers was not necessary during the year.
The number of new notifications rose from 67 in 1955 to 85 in 1956. Of the 85, 24
were inward transfers, i.e. they were not resident in Southall at the time of development of
disease, and therefore the actual figure of new notifications of Southall residents was 61,
while in 1955 the number of inward transfers was 17, making the figure for new notifications
of Southall residents 50. The increase during 1956 could be partly attributed to the
discoveries made as a result of the two visits of the Mass X-ray unit and partly to the fact
that there was an increase in the number of Indian Nationals either suffering from tuberculosis
before arrival, or developing tuberculosis as a result of their transfer from India.
(Nine of the new notifications were Indians, as compared with three in 1955. When Indian
Nationals first came into Southall, the standard of accommodation was very poor and
overcrowding existed, but during 1954, the Council laid down an upper limit of accommodation
for each dwelling house occupied by Indians, so that statutory overcrowding is
less likely to occur, though the position needs careful watching.)
The analysis of the housing conditions of new cases shows that of the notified patients
living in Southall, exclusive of the St. Bernard's Hospital notifications, and of those
transferred into the Borough having developed tuberculosis elsewhere, housing conditions
were reasonably good in all except six instances. All of these six were living in overcrowded
conditions.
Those cases ascertained in previous years to be living in statutorily overcrowded
conditions and containing in the family a tuberculous patient have been rehoused, except
for one family which had their overcrowding abated because of increased accommodation made
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