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88
The following points of interest may be noted : the rough similarity
of the three divisions of the borough in the number of cases ; the fairly
constant ratio of paralytic to non-paralytic cases (except to some extent
in non-epidemic years); the variations from year to year in the sexes
(but averaging out over the total period); the fact that only one person
over 45 years of age was affected in the whole seven years, while
approximately one-third were under 5 and one-third were of school
age; and the total result that about one in twenty dies, six in twenty
have severe paralysis, five in twenty have a mild paralysis and eight
in twenty recover completely. These figures are from statistics collected
to some extent this year; some of the cases could not be traced, as
indicated in the table.
Poliomyelitis remains a baffling disease, and one which is a
particular anxiety to parents of young children because it seems to affect
the community of young children indiscriminately, and there is so little
of any value that can be done to safeguard the child. Nevertheless much
research work has been going on and continues to go on, particularly
in America, and much more is known about the disease than a few
years ago. Experiments in immunisation of children are taking place
in America this year and there is a mild belief that they may show some
success. At present, however, in this country only general advice can
be given, and of this general advice perhaps some five points stand
out:—
(1) Because it is likely that the virus is often transmitted from
hand to mouth, efforts should be made to ensure that every
child washes his hands before meals and adopts other hygienic
practices, such for example, as not sucking fingers, pencils, and
so on.
(2) Because a child may carry the causal organism in his bowel
without showing any signs of the disease, it is desirable, to
some extent for his own good but particularly for the good
of the community, that he should be made to wash his hands
thoroughly after using the water closet.
(3) Because injuries, excessive exercise, and other such factors
alter what is technically known as the "blood-brain barrier"
and thereby let virus through this barrier into the brain and
spinal cord more easily, any child who, when there is poliomyelitis
about the district, seems out-of-sorts should be
encouraged or forced to stay in bed, or at the least to rest
quietly at home until the nature of the illness has become
manifest.
(4) Similarly, because of the reason given in (3) above, even small
traumata, like having injections, or removal of teeth (and