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8
There was a marked decrease in the number of cases of Whooping
Cough — 6 being notified as compared with 37 in the previous year.
All the cases were mild.
The practice of giving Whooping Cough immunisation combined
with Diphtheria at an early age — starting at 3 months — has done
much to reduce the incidence of Whooping Cough in infancy, at the
time when it is a most dangerous and distressing illness.
1958 was the inter-epidemic year for Measles. There were 136
cases notified as compared with 606 in the epidemic of the previous
year.
There were no cases of Diphtheria during the year; the last case
notified in this Borough was in 1948.
Poliomyelitis
There was one case of Poliomyelitis notified during the year.
The patient was a young man aged 30 years who developed the
disease in January. He was very gravely ill, having paralysis of the
upper limbs and respiratory muscles, and was treated in the Western
Hospital. Later he was transferred to St. Benedict's Hospital where
after prolonged treatment he made a complete recovery, and has now
resumed his work.
Tuberculosis
The number of new cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis has increased
—28 being notified as compared with 19 in the previous year. There
were no new cases of Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis during 1958,
compared with 4 cases in the previous year. There were no deaths
from Pulmonary Tuberculosis during 1958, but four persons, who
had been notified as suffering from the disease, died from other causes
during the year.
Mass Radiography Unit
Arrangements were made for the Mass Radiography Unit of the
South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board to visit the Borough
from 6th to 22nd August to afford facilities for X-Ray of the chest
for anyone wishing to attend.
The unit was based in the Public Health Department, and the
visit was widely publicised.
The numbers attending were not so good as on the previous visit;
it is difficult to persuade people, who consider themselves in good
health, of the value of an annual X-Ray of Chest as a check-up on
health.