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
Carshalton 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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The following table shows the estimated percentage of children immunised at each year end since 1935, when the Council's scheme was inaugurated and the incidence of diphtheria in the resident population.
| Year | Percentage of Children Immunised | Incidence of Diphtheria | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 Years | 5-15 Years | 0-15 Years | Cases | Attack Rate Per 1,000 Population | |
| 1935 | - | - | 7 | 58 | 1.13 |
| 1936 | — | — | 10 | 53 | 0.95 |
| 1937 | — | — | 15 | 47 | 0.80 |
| 1938 | — | — | 18 | 33 | 0.57 |
| 1939 | — | — | 19 | 14 | 0.23 |
| 1940 | — | — | 21 | 45 | 0.77 |
| 1941 | — | — | 49 | 26 | 0.45 |
| 1942 | 40 | 84 | 71 | 23 | 0.40 |
| 1943 | 57 | 78 | 72 | 7 | 0.12 |
| 1944 | 54 | 83 | 75 | 7 | 0.12 |
| 1945 | 58 | 75 | 70 | 15 | 0.27 |
| 1946 | 64 | 81 | 76 | 4 | 0.06 |
| 1947 | 63 | 84 | 78 | 2 | 0.03 |
| 1948 | 67 | 92 | 81 | 1 | 0.01 |
| 1949 | 60 | 91 | 81 | 1 | 0.01 |
| 1950 | 63 | 98 | 85 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1951 | 57 | 97 | 84 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1952 | 54 | 99 | 84 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1953 | 52 | 85(70*) | 75(64*) | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1954 | 53 | 85(66*) | 75(62*) | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1955 | 52 | 84(66*) | 74(62*) | 0 | 0.00 |
(* Immunised within the last 5 years)
Erysipelas
Four cases of erysipelas were notified. Three had a facial lesion and
the fourth an infection of the foot. Two had had a previous attack. All
recovered.
Pneumonia
Notification of pneumonia is limited to primary and influenzal pneumonia.
Hence the numbers reported do not include cases which arise as a
complication of some other condition. The number notified in 1955 at 28
was the same as in the year before, the lowest figure for ten years. It is
probable that the early use of the modern anti-biotics and the sulpha drugs
aborts the full development of this disease in many patients, and that this
accounts for the smaller number of cases in the last year or so. Of the 28
cases, six were stated to be of influenzal origin. More than half the total
occurred in the first quarter of the year.
Measles
Much in conformity with the behaviour pattern of this infection, a high
incidence of measles was to be expected in 1955 following a year of low
prevalence in 1954. Infection on an epidemic scale began in the second week
of January and continued to the middle of the year with the peak period in
March and April. A total of 1,138 cases—all residents but eight—was the
highest recorded since notification began in 1939. Although no means have
yet been found of preventing measles, the risk of its more dangerous complications
have been largely removed by modern chemotherapy.
There were no deaths.
48