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Dysentery—Cases were, as in previous years, all of the mild
Sonne type.
Gastro-Enteritis-There were only 16 cases admitted, mostly
of a mild type. There has been a progressive decline in incidence
and severity of this complaint since 1947, when there were 51
admissions and 9 deaths.
Poliomyelitis—Only 8 patients were admitted, 4 being
paralytic cases and 4 non-paralytic. In two of the paralytic cases,
paralysis was transient with complete recovery. Both patients
who suffered residual paralysis were adults. Of the four nonparalytic
cases, two had benign lymphocytic meningitis. In one
of these cases, benign lymphocytic chorio-meningitis, leptospiral
infection and mumps were excluded by serological tests.
Meningitis—Of the cases shown under this heading, one was
pneumococcal and the other was secondary to an intracranial
abscess, the organism not having been isolated. There were also
two cases of benign lymphocytic meningitis regarded as poliomyelitis,
one case of mumps meningitis, one case of measles
meningo-encephalitis and one case of hæ
mophilis influenza
meningitis complicating measles. All cases' recovered.
Other Infections—For the first year on record no case of
diphtheria was admitted. Food poisoning cases were all due to
Salmonella typhi-murium infections. The one case of typhoid
fever—a man 48 years old—was admitted from Lambeth Borough.
The attack was severe and despite chloramphenicol treatment
continued as currently recommended for two weeks after the
temperature became normal, a relapse of almost equal severity
occurred requiring a second course of treatment.
The occurrence of only one fatal case in the fever wards was
a record. The previous lowest number of deaths was eight in
each of the years 1943 and 1944.
To this comprehensive report of Dr. Lineham, I would add
that a mild type of dysentery (Sonne dysentery) gave rise to difficulties
during the year in all the Day Nurseries, and in one of
the Corporation's Rest Centres. This infection may produce no
signs, or very minor disturbance only in adults. In babies and
young children the upset is usually of a few days duration only,
but during that time the child may be quite ill. No serious or
fatal cases occurred, and all responded quickly to chemotherapy.
In the Day Nurseries spread was rapid, and while strict
hygienic discipline might confine the infection to one section of