London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Merton 1971
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
This page requires JavaScript
Deaths
There were three deaths from respiratory tuberculosis and its late
effects during the year. The table of causes of death on page 16
gives an analysis by age and sex.
The death rates per 1,000 population were 0.02 respiratory and
0.006 non-respiratory, compared with 0.02 and 0.004 respectively for
England and Wales. The comparable figures for the Borough for
1970 were 0.04 and nil.
After-Care of the Tuberculous
The Authority makes an annual grant of £100 to each of the
three T.B. Care Committees working within the Borough, to aid them
in the much appreciated work which they carry out in connection
with the after-care of the tuberculous.
PROPHYLACTIC MEASURES
The table below gives details of initial protection given by the use of prophylactics against diptheria, whooping cough, measles, poliomyelitis, tetanus and rubella:—
| Disease against which protection given | Number of primary courses given | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year of Birth | Others under 16 years | Total | |||||
| 1971 | 1970 | 1969 | 1968 | 1964/67 | |||
| Diphtheria | 40 | 1428 | 379 | 55 | 53 | 25 | 1980 |
| Whooping Cough | 40 | 1423 | 375 | 53 | 35 | 10 | 1936 |
| Poliomyelitis (Oral) | 38 | 1441 | 369 | 59 | 43 | 33 | 1983 |
| Tetanus | 40 | 1428 | 380 | 55 | 53 | 56 | 2012 |
| Measles | 8 | 702 | 521 | 209 | 249 | 35 | 1724 |
| Rubella | — | — | — | — | — | 829 | 829 |
Below are given the percentages of children, born in 1969, who
had been given protection against whooping cough, diphtheria and
poliomyelitis by the end of 1971. The figure in brackets is the corresponding
percentage for England and Wales:—
Whooping cough 79 (78)
Diphtheria 80 (80)
Poliomyelitis 77 (80)
The continuing need for immunisation and vaccination is brought
home to the public at large by the use of leaflets, posters and displays,
and by the teaching of the Health Visitors at the clinics and in the
course of their district visits.
Reinforcement Measures
In addition to the above measures of primary protection the
following numbers were given re-inforcement doses:—
Diphtheria 2,376
Whooping cough 437
Poliomyelitis 2,465
Tetanus 2,502
27