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78
Puerperal Pyrexia
There has been no serious incidence of puerperal pyrexia since
the war, A few cases have been notified each year and since 1948
these have been investigated where necessary by the London County
Council as Local Health Authority.
In 1955 one case was notified. Finsbury cases occurring in hospital
are notified in the area in which the hospital is situate: no
information was received during the year as to any such notification.
Meningococcal Infections
There have been only occasional cases since the war with 4 in the
last 5 years. These were all in babies, Information regarding the
case was received so late in each case that no practical measures of
surveillance or control could be carried out. One baby died in 1952
and the three remaining cases which occurred in 1955 recovered fully.
Malaria
The only case known of in recent years was in a soldier who had
returned from Korea in 1953, He was treated in hospital.
Erysipelas
In recent years this disease like Scarlet Fever has been very
mild and readily amenable to the newer treatments,, In all 40 cases
have been notified in the last five years 10 of which were in 1955,
18 in all (3 in 1955) were treated in hospital. Only one case was
severely ill and one moderately ill (both in 1955) and the remainder
were only mild. There was full recovery in all cases.
Poliomyelitis
This distressing disease which often gives rise to prolonged illness,
lifelong disabilities and not infrequent death has been since
the war a most serious concern of Public Health officers and has
caused much alarm among the public generally.
From 1946 to 1949 there were 12 cases (10 in 1947) the age distribution
one under 1, two 1-4, five 5-14, two 15-24 and two 25-44.
In 1950 new regulations arranged for a distinction to be made
between paralytic and nonparalytic cases. In 1950 there were 5 paralytic
cases, in 1951 none, in 1952 1 case, in 1953 and 1954 none and
in 1955 6 cases All were in the age group 1-4 except for one infant
under 1 in 1955.