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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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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 is shown in the following table:—
| YEAR | percentage of Children immunised at year end | 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 |
| 1956 | 57 | 84(66*) | 76(64*) | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1957 | 57 | 87(66*) | 78(64*) | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1958 | 57 | 85(63*) | 77(61*) | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1959 | 57 | 84(63*) | 76(61*) | 0 | 0.00 |
(* Immunised within the last 5 years)
Erysipelas
The number of cases of this skin infection notified, never very large,
has declined to a very low level. As in the year before, only one case affecting
the face of an elderly woman was reported. The organism responsible
for this condition is one which is usually readily destroyed by anti-biotic or
sulphonamide treatment.
Pneumonia
Cases of pneumonia, of which only primary pneumonia and influenzal
pneumonia are notifiable, are a fair indication of the prevalence of respiratory
illness, although they represent only the more serious and extreme
manifestation of chest infection. As expected they occur mostly in the
winter months and of the 26 cases notified during the year, 14 were influenzal
in origin and all 14 occurred in February and March during a wave of that
infection.
More than half the total cases were over 50 years of age and the youngest
was 11 years.
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