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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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in 1958 showed an increase, has been much more prevalent in 1959, and although the cases
are mostly mild, there is now and again one more severe with ear, heart or kidney complications.
The disease, which had seemed to be disappearing, is still one to be treated with
considerable care and good isolation. All the cases were, however, nursed at home, except
one who was admitted to St. John's Hospital, Uxbridge.
No cases of diphtheria were notified to the Department.
The following information supplied by the Area Medical Officer shows the number of children immunised against diphtheria during the year.
| Number of Children who completed a full course of Primary Immunisation in Southall during the year | Number of Children who were given Secondary or Reinforcing Injection during the year (i.e. having in a previous year received a complete full course) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages at Date of Final Injection | ||||
| Under 1 | 1-4 | 5-14 | Total | |
| 480 | 111 | 13 | 604 | 55 |
In the following table is shown the number of children at 31st December, 1958, who had completed a course of immunisation against diphtheria at any time before that date:—
| Age at 31.12.59: | Under 1 | 1-4 | 5-9 | 10-14 | Total under 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number immunised | 175 | 2,076 | 2,630 | 3,767 | 8,648 |
The immunisation state of the child population seems to be decreasing, though not to
a great extent at present—there is no material increase or decrease in the figures in general.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum
No case of ophthalmia neonatorum was notified during the year.
Tuberculosis
Notifications
Pulmonary
The number of new cases notified during the year was 69.
Other Forms
The number of new cases notified during the year was 16.
Of the total notifications, which include new cases and inward transfers from other
districts, 7 were received from medical practitioners; 56 from the Uxbridge Chest Clinic;
11 from General Hospitals; and 11 from St. Bernard's Hospital. The number of new notifications
rose from 80 in 1958 to 85 in 1959. Of the 85, 21 were inward transfers, i.e. they
were not resident in Southall at the time of development of the disease, and, therefore, the
actual figure of new notifications of Southall residents was 64, two of which were subsequentiy
diagnosed as non-tuberculous; while in 1958 the number of inward transfers was
25, making the figure for new notifications of Southall residents 55, less two subsequently
cancelled.
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