London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

City of Westminster 1925

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

This page requires JavaScript

32
Poliomyelitis.—Three cases occurred, one of whom, a male infant
of seven days, died. The incidence and mortality since 1921 were:—

Table XXVIII.

1921.1922.1923.1924.1925.
00113
Deaths:—00011

This disease became notifiable in 1912, and increasing attention has
been drawn to the crippling effects which result from this infection,
effects which may cause serious and permanent deformity. Efforts are
being made to secure earlier diagnosis, so that appropriate treatment
may be applied at a stage in the illness when deformities may be prevented.
The London County Council have made arrangements for the
reception of patients at Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton. These cases
in the stage immediately following the fever may be admitted, and
also those later ones in which "infantile paralysis" has definitely
developed.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—Seven cases occurred, with four deaths.
Of the remaining three one moved away from the district, one died from
cirrhosis of the liver. The third died from cerebral haemorrhage, and it
is probable that in this case the original diagnosis was mistaken. The
incidence in Westminster during the past five years is given below, but
these figures must necessarily be inexact, as a certain amount of doubt
existed as to the diagnosis in some cases, while it is more than likely that
other cases were missed. The disease was made compulsorily notifiable
in 1919, and investigations into its epidemiology and characteristics have
been proceeding under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Medical
Research Council. The first outbreak was noted in London in 1918, and
was said to be associated with food poisoning. Since then its occurrence
has been studied in various parts of the country. It attacks all classes
and at all ages. Its mortality is roughly estimated at about 50 per centof
those attacked. It is suggested that indoor workers and those undergoing
mental strain are specially susceptible. Public attention has been
drawn to this infection from the fact that it has caused the death of several
eminent personages during the past year, and its after effects on those
who survive are such that in some it causes mental deterioration. In
cases of mental delinquency those effects have been pleaded as a defence to
charges of petty theft. The London County Council have initiated an
inquiry into the after effects in sufferers who are of school age and they
desire that the medical officers of metropolitan boroughs should supplement
these records by supplying information concerning patients of
pre-school age and adults. It is requested that data should be furnished at