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37.
attributed to the campaign for whooping cough immunisation.
Parents are bringing their children for immunisation in everincreasing
numbers, a total of 445 children receiving a full
course during the year.
Acute Poliomyelitis
Four cases were notified and confirmed. Of these, only one
developed paralysis which, unfortunately, proved rapidly fatal.
Tuberculosis
Fresh notifications of tuberculosis numbered 32, and, in
addition, 31 persons who were already known cases of tuberculosis
in other areas, came to reside in the borough.
The most important step taken in 1954 was the commencement
of B.C.G. vaccination of school-children in the year preceding
their fourteenth birthday. The response on the part of parents
was most encouraging and a total of 67 children out of 130 eligible,
were vaccinated.
The excellent work carried out by the Falthamstow and Chingford
Association of Tuberculosis Care Helpers was continued. This
Association is deserving of the utmost support and, indeed, receives
an annual grant from the Council, apart from donations from many
organisations in the borough. Its work is mainly of a practical
nature, providing needy families of tuberculous persons with
groceries, milk, bedding, coal, etc. during the long period of
the patient's illness and his subsequent rehabilitation.
Dysentery
Of seventeen notifications of this disease, only three needed
hospital admission.
Food Poisoning
Only three persons were notified as suffering from food
poisoning: all these were isolated instances and were not linked
with one another.
Food Hygiene
Close contact was maintained by the Health Department with
all food premises in the borough; these contacts provided ample
opportunity for the discussion of problems relating to cleanliness
in the handling and preparation of food.
Smallpox contacts
Surveillance of several persons, who were contacts or