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DYSENTERY.
If reference is made to Table III in the Appendix, it will be
noted that this disease first became prevalent during the war but
that until 1955 there was a general tendency for the number of
cases to decrease. The facts are, that until that year the cases
were almost all due to the more severe Flexner type of the disease
and were mental hospital cases. In 1955, however, only 32 of the
98 cases notified were of that type, the majority being of the very
prevalent, though much milder Sonne form of dysentery, which
was widely spread in this part of the Country.
In 1956, 26 cases of dysentery were notified from the mental
hospitals, (3 of the Flexner type) and 55 from among ordinary
residents, but in 1957 only a total of 2 cases were notified and the
diagnosis confirmed, both being of the Flexner type. They occurred
in one of the mental hospitals during the Summer. In 7 other
instances suspected cases or contacts had to be followed up and
investigated.
The prevention of the spread of dysentery is almost entirely
a matter of practising hygienic habits and particularly those of
cleansing the hands thoroughly after going to the W.C. and before
handling food.
FOOD POISONING.
The preceding remarks apply also to the prevention of this
group of infections, the prevalence of which increased with communal
feeding during and after the war, but in respect of which
public opinion has been steadily built up and supported by new
legislation.
In 1956 only 8 cases were notified locally and confirmed, and
in 1957 only 3. One of the latter was due to a staphylococcal
infection spread through custard which caused a Croydon School
outbreak. The other two were due to S. typhi-murium, one being
an isolated case, forming part of an outbreak in a large laboratory
in another County and the other probably contracted the disease
on the Continent. All three recovered.
POLIOMYELITIS.
It will be remembered that this disease first assumed major
importance in this Country in the hot summer of 1947, since when,
owing to the serious results which can occur, it has received considerable
attention.
In this District, the average number of cases which has
occurred annually since 1946 is 8, hence the 13 notified in 1957
was slightly above the average, but three of the cases were nonparalytic;
they included one adult case who was later diagnosed
as having had a virus meningitis of an unknown type. Of the 10
paralytic cases, 7 were children of whom at least 2 had only mild
attacks and were treated at home. One of the children had just
received his first immunising dose of vaccine which could not have
had time to act. All recovered with very slight to moderate
residual paralysis. On the other hand, of the 3 adults, both the
males had very severe attacks and died.
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