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13
As in previous years, special facilities were provided in the Metropolitan Asylums
Board's Institution, Queen Marv's Hospital, Carshalton, for tbe residential treatment
of children suffering from paralysis following poliomyelitis. At the end of
1928, there were 25 cases under treatment as compared with 47 at the end of 1927.
During 1929,33 children were admitted (including 2 re-admissions), 33 were discharged
and there were 2 deaths, leaving 23 under treatment at the end of 1929.
Encephalitis
lethargica.
One hundred and four cases of encephalitis lethargica were notified during the
period 1st January to 31st December, 1929, but the diagnosis was not confirmed
in 33 of these. Of the 71 genuine cases, 25 (35 per cent.) proved fatal. In addition,
32 fatal cases, which had never been notified, were recorded in the Registrar General's
death returns.

After effects
of
encephalitis
lethargica
It was stated in last year's Annual Report that arrangements had been made
with the Metropolitan Asylums Board to extend the accommodation at the Northern
Hospital, Winchmore Hill, for cases of post-encephalitis lethargica, which had up
to then been limited to the admission of children between 3 and 16 years of age,
so as to provide for the treatment of adults suffering from the disease. As a result
50 beds were set aside for this purpose and between May and December, 1929,
57 adults were admitted with varying conditions associated with post-encephalitis
lethargica. During this period 10 were discharged so that on 31st December, 1929,
47 remained under treatment.
The number of children treated in the special unit at the Northern Hospital
is given in the Annual Report of the school medical officer. Unfortunately the
provision made for adults has proved to be quite inadequate and there is a long list
of patients waiting to be admitted but for whom accommodation cannot be provided
until vacancies occur through discharges etc. The possibility of extending the
provision of accommodation for these difficult cases has been under serious consideration
and is still under review.
Influenza
The deaths from influenza during 1929 numbered 3,118 compared with 590
in 1928.
There was a noteworthy similarity between the winter weather conditions of
1928-9 and 1894-5, and also in regard to the severity and time of occurrence of the
influenza epidemics of these two years. This similarity is stressed by the fact that
in the following winters in both instances there was an exceptional freedom from
fatal influenza. The age-incidence of the mortality from influenza in 1929 was
discussed in last year's report, Vol. III., p. 28.
Rheumatic,
fever.
The deaths in London from rheumatic fever in 1929 numbered 168 compared
with 165 in 1928. There were 68 deaths among children under 15 years of age.
17710 b