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140
Acute Anterior Polio Myelitis.
Two brothers aged 15½ and 16½ years, respectively, were notified
during July. Two days elapsed between the onset of illness. The
boys were treated at home. It is interesting to record two cases in
one family. The illness was of a very mild nature in one of the
cases and it is possible that it would have remained undetected but
for the presence of a much more serious attack in the brother.
In the mild case there was complete recovery in a few days without
wasting or paralysis. The other boy also made a satisfactory
recovery, but the arm was still slightly affected six months later: he
is receiving appropriate treatment for this.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
There were four cases of Cerebro-spinal Fever during the year.
One female aged 27 years was notified in January and three males
aged 32, 33 and 2½
years were notified in May, June and December
respectively.
Two of the patients died, and one made a complete recovery. The
fourth patient is still under treatment. The diagnosis was confirmed
bacteriologically in every case. In one patient the meningococcus was
of group I, in the other, group II; the organism was not typed in one
case, while no information as to type is available about the patient
who died. All the patients were treated with specific serum, and in
addition, one patient was given prontosil.
Diphtheria.
During the year there were 87 cases of diphtheria and four
deaths as compared with 51 cases and one death in the previous year.
The.morbidity rate was 095 per 1,000 of the population. All cases,
with three exceptions, were removed to hospital.
Immunisation.
Immunisation is available in the Borough by private arrangement
of inhabitants with their own family doctor, in which case the cost
is not borne by the Borough Council, but the material is supplied free
to the Medical Practitioner. It is also available entirely free of cost
to the parents under the Borough Council's Scheme:—