Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES
Although the total number of notifications of infectious disease was higher in 1957
than in 1956, this was entirely due to the biennial appearance of measles in epidemic form.
The other figures all showed an improvement on those for 1956 except for a rise by two
of the numbers notified as suffering from tuberculosis, and a slight rise in the two streptococcal
infections, scarlet fever and erysipelas. The measles incidence did not rise to the high
peaks reached in the epidemics of 1955 and 1953. There were no notifications of diphtheria
and the poliomyelitis notifications dropped to three, two of which were subsequently not
confirmed as poliomyelitis.
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
The following table shows the trend of notifications during the past ten years.
Year | No. of Cases | Deaths |
---|---|---|
1948 | 825 | 1 |
1949 | 194 | |
1950 | 701 | |
1951 | 1,129 | |
1952 | 528 | |
1953 | 931 | 1 |
1954 | 41 | - |
1955 | 1,329 | - |
1956 | 61 | |
1957 | 674 | 1 |
Three notifications of suspected anterior poliomyelitis were received in 1957; 1 paralytic
and 2 non-paralytic. The non-paralytic cases were confirmed as not being poliomyelitis,
but paralytic poliomyelitis was confirmed in the third case—the paralysis being widespread,
all limbs, chest, back were affected—the patient made very good progress and has
almost full use of her muscles again.
An Analysis of the Progress of all Paralytic Poliomyelitis Cases Occurring in Southall since 1949 is as follows:—
Year | Number of Notified Cases Confirmed as Paralytic Poliomyelitis | Still Making Progress | Condition Stationary | Died | Full Recovery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1949 | 14 | - | 2 | 12 | |
1950 | 6 | 2 | - | 4 | |
1951 | 9 | - | - | - | 9 |
1952 | 8* | 2 | i | 4 | |
1953 | 4 | - | 2 | 2 | |
1954 | 2 | - | i | 1 | |
1955 | 8 | 1 | - | 2 | 5 |
1956 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
1957 | i | 1 | - | - | - |
*One removed from district—information on progress not obtainable.
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