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29
Poliomyelitis.
We had during the year 15 cases of Poliomyelitis of whom 12
developed paralysis and 3 did not. There was one death from the
disease and this suggests correctly that the type of disease was not
especially severe.
One of the cases is of especial interest in that it occurred in a
twin aged 9 who developed paralysis of the upper and lower limbs
followed by respiratory paralysis requiring treatment in an iron
lung. So far as our information serves the other twin had no illness
of a suspicious nature. The case made an excellent recovery.
In two cases there was respiratory paralysis.
In nine cases there was paralysis of the upper and/or lower
limbs.
In one case there was bulbar paralysis and in three an abortive
poliomyelitis. The bulbar paralysis case died but all the others
including the two cases of respiratory paralysis requiring iron lung
treatment were at the end of the year making good progress, which
the latest information suggests is being maintained where treatment
is still being continued.
There comes of course a time when the results of treatment
cannot be improved upon and a varying degree of defect may persist.
In the case noted during the year, however, it is clear that the
results of treatment have been excellent and the degree of disability
persisting even at this time is in the average case either very small
or practically completely absent.
Gastro-enteritis.
During the year an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting occurred
at a local primary and infants' school and involved some 60 children.
The onset was dramatic in its suddenness, the symptoms were of
moderate severity and transient, passing off in a matter of a few
hours; the complications in general were nil and the day following
the onset the average case appeared practically normal. Specimens
of everything which could reasonably be expected to afford assistance
in determining the cause of the outbreak were speedily available
and as speedily sent for examination without, however, any
bacterial cause being found. There was no recurrence.
Disinfection.
Sunlight and soap and water still retain their importance of
place as bactericidal agents despite the absence of advertisement.
It is being ever more widely recognised that in, for example,
diseases such as Scarlet Fever concurrent disinfection is of much
greater importance than terminal disinfection. The local practice
in this respect follows accepted principles and is unchanged as compared
with last year.