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14
Temporary protection can be obtained by use of "immune
globulins "or" placental extracts" in special cases, such as a
very ailing child exposed to severe risk of the disease, but no
successful method of long term active immunisation has yet been
discovered.
Pneumonia.
The number of cases declined in 1952 to 128 (28 influenzal)
as compared to 197 (36 influenzal) in 1951.
The number of deaths however rose from 93 in 1951 to 101
in 1952, two of which were due to influenzal pneumonia.
From these figures it would appear that the mortality in
Ealing of primary pneumonia is 99% and that of influenzal
pneumonia is 7%.
The fallacy lies in the fact that many cases of pneumonia are
not notified but all deaths are reported to the Registrar.
A similar situation at one time existed with regard to meningococcal
infections so that in 1928 more deaths (438) were recorded
than there were cases notified (412).
Pneumonia is now readily treated in the young and vigorous
but still has a high mortality in those at the extremes of life.
Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis and Polio-Encephalitis.
During the year there were 21 confirmed cases, 17 of which
were paralytic and 4 non-paralytic.
This represents a substantially more serious state of affairs
than in 1951 when there were 10 cases, 3 of which were paralytic.
One redeeming feature was the absence of deaths.
Close co-operation was maintained during the year with the
Medical Research Council Unit which is investigating the spread of
poliomyelitis.
Reports have recently been received from America of a method
of passive immunisation of children using serum from convalescent
patients. The method appears to have some value—but would be
impractical except during epidemic times since the protection lasts
only a few weeks and carries risks of certain complications such as
homologous serum jaundice.
A more hopeful line of attack is the use of a modified poliomyelitis
virus vaccine for active immunisation. This is as yet in
the early experimental stage but it does offer the promise of a
practical method of prevention should the trials prove successful.