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Typhoid Fever.—During the year three cases of typhoid fever were notified. One had just returned
from a holiday in Spain, and the history of the illness pointed to the infection having been acquired there.
The other two cases, notified in January and March respectively, were nurses in West Middlesex Hospital.
Extensive enquiries and the bacteriological examination of specimens of blood and excreta from many
contacts failed to reveal the source of infection.
Paratyphoid Fever.—During the year six cases of paratyphoid fever were notified. Five of
these occurred in June, they resided in various parts of the Borough and no connection between them
was traced. The mother of one of the children was found to be a carrier. The type of paratyphoid bacillus
concerned in all these persons is uncommon in this country, and the Ministry of Health and the Public
Health Laboratory Service co-operated in extensive and varied enquiries designed to ascertain the source
of the infection, but after three months of effort the mystery remained unsolved. The remaining case
occurred in September and again efforts to trace the source of infection were unsuccessful.
Dysentery.—This disease shows great variations in prevalence from year to year and from place
to place. Six cases were notified in the Borough during 1950. One was a nurse in West Middlesex Hospital
and the others resided in various parts of the Borough. The possibility of this infection should be kept
in mind in all cases of diarrhoea and on the least suspicion a specimen of faeces should be submitted to
bacteriological examination.
Tuberculosis.—The notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis were 45 less then in 1949, but there
was an increase of 8 in the notifications of non-pulmonary tuberculosis.

The number of cases of tuberculosis on the Borough register at 31st December, 1950 was 935.
"Tuberculosis as a constitutional disease is a serious menace to public health in that it is infectious,
insidious in onset, usually runs a chronic course and exerts its maximum effect on those age groups that
are of the greatest value to the productive capacity of a nation." The recent efforts to increase the number
of beds available for cases of tuberculosis are welcome.
Towards the end of the year the Mass X-Ray Unit visited the Borough, it was located at West
Middlesex Hospital for 19 days, and at Bulstrode School for 4 days. The sessions at West Middlesex
Hospital were reserved for selected groups from factories, etc., and 5,884 persons attended. The sessions
at Bulstrode School were open to the general public and despite the very bad weather, 2,397 persons (965
men, 1,432 women) attended. This is a record number for public sessions, and no doubt the press
publicity paid for by the Council and the personal attendance of the Mayor and members of the Council
did much to encourage citizens to take advantage of the presence of the Unit in the Borough. Of the
2,397 persons who attended the public sessions 74 were recalled for large films, but only 9 were considered
to require further investigation (this does not necessarily indicate tuberculosis).
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—One case of this infection of the eyes of young babies was notified
during the year.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—This condition is defined as "any febrile condition occurring in a woman
within 21 days after childbirth or miscarriage in which a temperature of 100.4 degrees F. or more has been
sustained during a period of 24 hours or has recurred during that period." Such a febrile condition, no
matter what is the cause, is notifiable so that appropriate action can be taken if investigation suggests
that the condition is likely to be puerperal fever. During the year 8 cases were notified, but no woman
died from puerperal or post-abortion sepsis.
Measles.—This disease was more prevalent than in 1949, but caused no deaths. Admission to
hospital was arranged for 26 cases.
Whooping Cough.—The incidence of this disease was greater than in 1949, but no death was due
to whooping cough. Admission to hospital was arranged for 14 cases.
Malaria.—One case was notified during the year and enquiry revealed it to be a recurrence of an
infection acquired overseas.
Influenza.—No epidemic of influenza occurred during 1950, and the deaths due to this disease were
6 as compared with 6 in 1949 and 5 in 1948.
Mumps, Chicken Pox, German Measles.—These diseases are not notifiable, but cases are
brought to the attention of the Department through schools, health visitors, etc. The following numbers
of cases were recorded during 1950 mumps 196 ; chicken pox 219 ; and German measles 5.
Undulant Fever.—One case was notified during the year. This disease is caused by the germ
responsible for contagious abortion in cattle and is usually transmitted by infected milk. The probable
source of infection was unpasteurised milk derived from a farm outside the Borough and the circumstances
were reported to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Fever Hospitals.—The Borough is served by the South Middlesex Infectious Diseases Hospital
but on occasion accommodation in other fever hospitals of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board is used. During the year 97 patients from the Borough were admitted to these hospitals, Close
contact is maintained between the hospitals and the Health Department so that any necessary action
can be taken.
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