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15
requires individual consideration and whilst it would "be unwise
to consider anything in medicine as perfect, this may well he
an important item in the continuing campaign for adequate
immunisation.
The total number of cases of notifiable infectious
disease was 687 as compared with 997 in 1958. The reduction
was largely due to the smaller number of cases of measles (344)
which was the lowest figure since 1956.
Diphtheria
There was again as in 1958, one case of diphtheria in
the Borough. This was a little girl who, fortunately, was never
seriously ill and in whom the diagnosis was in doubt for some
time. Other persons who had been in contact with the child were
investigated but no other case or carrier was discovered. The
infecting organism from the patient was of the mitis type.
Dysentery
Seventy-nine cases of dysentery were notified, the
infecting organism in almost all cases being shigella sonnei.
Of the total number 25 cases occurred in a mother and baby home
and all these cases were admitted to hospital for treatment.
Although some of the very young children were quite ill they all
recovered. Of the remaining number, in two instances three
persons in the same family were affected and in five other families
there were two cases each, whilst in another house there were two
cases but in different families.
Poliomyelitis
There were five confirmed cases of poliomyelitis, three
being non-paralytic. Of the two paralytic cases, one, a man of
50 years of age, was admitted to hospital and died on the following
day; the other a boy of 4, had paralysis affecting the left side of
the face and left arm and he made a good recovery. The ages of
all the patients were 4, 5, 6, 17 and 30 respectively.
Twelve other notifications of poliomyelitis were received
but the diagnosis was not confirmed.
One other case of poliomyelitis in the Borough was a
paralytic case of a boy of 1½ years who had recently arrived from
the Far East. The family had stayed temporarily in Holborn, where
the disease was notified, before coming to reside in Hampstead.