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It is, of course, the confirmed cases with which we are concerned, and at
first sight the fact that there were forty such cases is certainly disturbing.
It must be remembered; however, that poliomyelitis is only a serious disease
when it is complicated by paralysis If one could only be sure that individuals
would contract a non-paralytic attack of the disease there would be little cause
for worry, for such attacks result in recovery and the patient develops an
immunity which usually lasts a lifetime. For this reason, second attacks of
poliomyelitis, although they do occur, are rare. We are therefore most concerned
with the number of paralytic cases which have occurred, as shown in black in
the diagram above, (Prior to 1950 notifications do not distinguish between
paralytic and non-paralytic attacks.)
III