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Acute Polio-Myelitis or Acute Polio-Encephalitis.
This disease which in some of its symptons may give rise to
difficulties of diagnosis between it and epidemic cerebro-spinal
and other forms of meningitis, has been made a notifiable infectious
disease to which the provisions as to Notification, &c., of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891 apply. The disease is commonly
known as infantile paralysis, and has occurred in epidemic form
in America, Australia and in some parts of Europe and recently in
the South West of England the disease has appeared in localised
outbreaks. The disease attacks the nervous system causing
inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord, and subsequently
the brain itself and its membranes may become involved.
The disease is probably of microbial origin, but the actual germ has
not been isolated. The symptoms of the disease may simulate those
associated with epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis, and on this
account and because of its tendency to spread in the form of localised
outbreaks, it has been considered desirable to include the disease
amongst the lists of notifiable diseases. An Order to this effect
came into force in London on the 1st September, 1911.
During 1911, three cases were notified in the Borough of
Battersea, the three cases being distributed in the three subdistricts
of the Borough.
Opthalmia Neonatorum.
This disease was by Order added to the list of Notifiable Diseases
to which the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
apply. The Order came into force on the 13th March, 1911, and
up to the end of the year 21 cases were notified. Each case on
receipt of notification was visited by the Council's Health Visitors
and steps are taken, if required, to secure that proper medical and
nursing attendance is provided, and the case is kept under observation
as long as may be found necessary.
It is satisfactory to be able to record that of the 21 cases
notified during 1911, 19 recovered completely, and two only resulted
in partial impairment of eye-sight. One hundred and fifty-five
visits were paid by the Council's Health Visitor to cases of opthalmia
neonatorum. There can be no doubt that excellent results
have followed the Order making the disease notifiable and so
enabling timely steps to be taken to prevent the disastrous consequences
which only too frequently follow from neglect to provide
prompt treatment for these cases.
Measles.
During 1912, 111 deaths were registered within the Borough of
Battersea from Measles as compared with 74 deaths in 1910 and
86 deaths in 1909.