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11
Poliomyelitis.
During the year 19 Willesden residents were notified as suffering from poliomyelitis, including a late
notification on discharge from the London Hospital.
Of these 19 cases, 12 were confirmed, 6 persons between the age of 0 and 15 years, and 6 above the
age of 15 years. One case was fatal, 5 had severe paralysis, 5 slight paralysis, and one was non-paralytic. A
girl aged 17 years was notified as cerebro-spinal meningitis, but was finally diagnosed as poliomyelitis (nonparalytic).
The fatal case was a girl of 13 years who was admitted to hospital diagnosed as suffering with
appendicitis, but the post-mortem revealed the case as polio-encephalitis.
7 were admitted to Neasden Hospital and 5 to other hospitals, and on discharge 3 were transferred to
the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore and 8 were discharged home, 2 of whom attended
the hospital out-patients' department for treatment.
Smallpox.
There were no cases of smallpox during the year.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
Water.
The Metropolitan Water Board and the Colne Valley Water Company supply Willesden with water
of excellent quality.
Sewage and Drainage.
Most of the sewage of the borough is discharged into the London County Council main sewers, but a
small amount from the Park Royal area is discharged into the West Middlesex Main Drainage system.
Refuse Disposal.
House refuse is collected weekly, and trade refuse as often as neccssary; the trader pays an agreed
charge.
The refuse is disposed of by controlled tipping at Twyford.
The Borough Engineer's department deals with matters relating to the provision of dust-bins.
Bathrooms.
One in three Willesden families have no bathroom, and one in four have to share with another family.
Less than half the Willesden families (41 per cent.) have a bathroom of their own.
Water Closets.
Approximately one in four families (22 per cent.) share a water closet, but the proportion rises to
almost three-quarters (68 per cent.) in dwellings occupied by three or more families.
Gardens.
Willesden is poorly equipped with public open spaces, 242 acres, compared with an estimated need of
1,313 acres; yet one in four families have no garden at all, and a large number have to share a garden.

These results chow that the break-point chlorination plant installed at Gladstone Park Baths has
improved the standard of water purity. Further improvements are required to remedy the unsatisfactory
surface drainage and the sanitary and shower bath arrangements (see 1948 Annual Report).