View report page

these were infected by the Flexner type of dysentery bacillus.
By contrast the 5 cases notified from among the residents in the
District were all isolated cases of the milder Sonne type of
dysentery.
FOOD POISONING.
Only two cases were notified which might have suffered
from food poisoning, a husband and wife who had eaten a meal
a quarter of an hour before the onset of symptoms. The most
suspicious article in their diet was some bottled fruit, which may
possibly have caused chemical poisoning.
A series of gastro-intestinal upsets in another family was
investigated, the vomit of one member having shown the presence
of pathogenic staphylococci. As the cases occurred at intervals
over a period of eight days and no special food could be incriminated,
it was concluded that an infection was being spread from
hand to mouth and that it did not originate from food.
POLIOMYELITIS.
Only one resident is known to have contracted Poliomyelitis
during the year, and the infection probably originated at a seaside
resort. As the diagnosis was made in a Croydon general
hospital notification was accepted by Croydon.
Three other residents were treated in hospital for suspected
poliomyelitis, but one, who had been similarly suspected in 1950
when exhibiting the same symptoms, proved to be a case of
pereneal muscular atrophy. Another had acute toxic poly-neuritis
and the third may have had a virus meningitis.
At least three residents had rather unusual meningitic
symptoms complicating mumps early in the year when the disease
was very prevalent, while a young child was admitted to hospital
in February with suspected meningitis which proved to be a case
of pneumonia.
PNEUMONIA.
During 1951, at least 51 cases of acute primary or influenzal
pneumonia are known to have occurred, the majority in January
and February when some residents suffered from influenza. This
is twice the highest number of notifications received in any recent
year, but the apparent increase in cases resulted from an attempt
to assess the extent to which influenza was occurring. The admission
of any case of pneumonia to hospital by ambulance was
followed up and the correct diagnosis ascertained.
At least 16 of the cases are known to have been treated in
hospital, including 4 Mental Hospital patients.
19