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Spread of Infection in Family.
The 138 cases occurred in 95 families. In 65 families one case occurred; 19
families had two cases, nine had three, and in two families four suffered.
Removal.
Forty-two children were removed to hospital, approximately 30 per cent. as
opposed to 20 per cent. last year. Of these 40 were admitted to a M.A.B.
Hospital and two to the Holborn Poor Law Infirmary; parents are now more
willing to allow their children to be removed.
Home Nursing.
One case was referred to the Metropolitan Nursing Association under the
Council's arrangements; no other cases were so referred.
Epidemic Diarrhœa.
This disease is notifiable in only a few districts in London, and is not notifiable
in Holborn.
The number of deaths of young children under two years of age classified
under the head, Diarrhoea and Enteritis, was eight, all under one year. The
deaths were equal to a rate of 13.0 per 1,000 births in comparison with 10'2 for all
London.
The methods used to deal with the disease have been detailed in a previous
report; the most important perhaps is that during the third quarter of the year,
extra visits are paid to those homes in which epidemic diarrhœa is more likely to
occur.
Poliomyelitis.
Two cases of poliomyelitis (infantile paralysis) was notified. One child
treated at home and one in hospital. One recovered; one still attending hospital.
From the coming into operation of the Poliomyelitis Order, 1912, to the end of 1923 a
total of twelve cases of this disease were notified as occurring in the Borough.
In one case the patient was found to have suffered from influenza and not poliomyelitis.
The present condition of the remaining patients is as follows. Four of the eleven cases are
quite recovered and no crippling, but in one of these one leg is a little thinner than the other.
Less satisfactory results are : One case, notified in 1923, is still an out-patient at the Royal
Orthopaedic Hospital. One case, notified nine years ago, still wears a leg-iron although it is
hoped, as the result of a recent operation, that the use of this will soon become unnecessary.
One child, notified 8 years ago still drags his left leg slightly although he is able to play
games. One case, notified 4 years ago, at the age of 15, is now wheeled about in a bath chair
having no use of the lower limbs. The remaining three cases died.