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30
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS.
Eight cases were certified during the year with one death. They were
all certified by medical officers of hospitals to which the patients had been
taken for treatment. They occurred at houses situate one in Wenlock Ward,
two in Hoxton, one in Whitmore, two in Acton and two in Haggerston Ward.
The streets where these houses are may be described as satisfactory as regards the
condition of their roadways, space, light and air. The houses were found to be
satisfactory generally from a sanitary point of view as regards light, air, open
space, water supply and sanitary arrangements. No two of the houses invaded
were in close proximity to each other. The families in which the cases occurred
all belonged to the working class. In five instances they appeared to be in
comfortable circumstances, in the rest they were poorer but not amongst the
poorest. On the whole the homes were fairly clean; in five instances there was
evidence of bugs in the dwellings, but with one exception they were not
markedly infested with them. In one instance it was noted that the patient had
been bitten by these insects. In four instances animals were kept on the
premises, but there was no history of illness amongst them. So far as could be
ascertained there was no connection between the cases, nor was there any reason
for believing that any other cases had occurred amongst the 63 persons who
were resident in the houses. With regard to the cases that recovered six showed
signs of paralysis remaining. In all cases such steps as seemed necessary for
disinfection were taken. In the metropolis 145 cases were certified during the year.
GLANDERS, ANTHRAX AND HYDROPHOBIA.
No cases of either of the above diseases were certified in Shoreditch during
the year amongst human beings. In the whole of London there were certified
four cases of anthrax and one of glanders. One intimation was received from the
Veterinary Inspector of the London County Council as to the presence of glanders
amongst horses in the Borough. The usual inquiries were made by the Sanitary
officers in view of the possibility of human beings becoming infected.
CHOLERA.
No intimations under the cholera regulations were received during the year
as to persons arriving in the Borough from localities abroad where cholera was
present.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND SCHOOLS.
In the following table are set forth the numbers of children belonging to
Shoreditch who were suffering from infectious diseases or were residing in
homes in which infectious diseases existed concerning whom intimations of
exclusion from school were received from the head teachers of the schools they
attended in accordance with the requirements of the school management code of
the London County Council;—