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3
Borough of Mitcham
HEALTH REPORT FOR 1950
To the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors.
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have much pleasure in submitting the annual report for
the year 1950.
The year 1950 was a very good one as regards infectious
diseases, for although the incidence of disease rose the severity
remained of a low order. Whooping cough notifications were
almost doubled from last year, but no deaths occurred.
The 16 cases of dysentery notified were mild cases referred
on clinical grounds only and where bacteriological examinations
could be made they proved negative.
Probably the most outstanding point of interest is that for
the first time within record there was no case of diphtheria, which
followed on only one case in 1949. This compares with an
average of 60 cases per year for the 20-year period 1927-1946,
so that as a result of immunisation there must have occurred a
tremendous saving of lives and illness as well as a considerable
saving in nursing and hospital services; and immunisation has
proved itself to be a preventive measure of the highest value.
Although the incidence of poliomyelitis was fairly high for
England and Wales there were only two cases in Mitcham, both
being of a mild character.
Notification of tuberculosis rose from 106 to 117 cases, while
the 34 deaths gave a death rate of .5 per 1,000, which is above