View report page

Infectious Disease: (Contd).
immunisation because now we have a generation of parents and.
doctors who have not known diphtheria as one of the common
infectious diseases.
Vaccination against Poliomyelitis: A great event of the year
was the introduction of poliomyelitis vaccination, when in May
for the first time, we had in our hands a successful defence
weapon to prevent the occurrence of this infection. Although
supplies were extremely limited, due to the complexity and
cost of manufacture on a commercial scale, such stocks as were
available were administered to previously registered applicants.
Vaccination against Smallpox: This is a voluntary procedure
but it is most important because of the constant risk of Smallpox
breaking out due to the possible entrance into the country
by air or other means of persons who may be incubating the
disease, which may not immediately be recognised, and will
undoubtedly pass on unknown to other susceptible persons. They
in turn if not immediately diagnosed may extend the outbreak
which has to be confined by the vaccination or re.vaccination
of all contacts and strict isolation of all cases with thorough
and effective current and terminal disinfection.
Calculations show that by the end of 1956 some 66/0 of
children born between 1st July 1955 and 30th June 1956 have been
vaccinated.
Births: The number of live births for 1956 is 761 and compares
with 760 for 1955. The birth rate is 12.15 per 1,000 of the
population.
Deaths: The number of deaths recorded in 1956 is 615 compared
with 600 for 1955. This gives a death rate of 9.82 per 1,000
of the population.
The number of deaths of infants under one year in 1956 is
12 giving an Infant Mortality Rate of 15.76 compared with a Rate
of 22.36 for 1955.
Causes of Death: The main causes of death during 1956 were:.
Heart 196
Cancer 12k
Vascular lesions of Nervous
System 77
National attention has been drawn in recent years to the
general increase in the number of deaths attributable to lung
cancer and its connexion with cigarette smoking.
The following table shows the relevant figures for the past
five years in respect of Surbiton residents. The Registrar.
General couples cancer of the lung with cancer of the bronchus in
his abbreviated list of causes of death.
Deaths from cancer of the lung and bronchus
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
17
2
18
4
19
5
21
2
24
6
Total
Total
Total
. Total
Total
19
22
24
23
30
. 4 .