London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Leyton 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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21
Poliomyelitis (Infantile Paralysis).
Sixteen cases of paralytic and five non-paralytic cases of poliomyelitis
were notified during the year. Most of the paralytic cases continue
to attend physiotherapy departments as out-patients.
Annual Incidence since 1947.
The following list shows the annual number of cases of acute poliomyelitis notified in the Borough from 1947-1955 inclusive.
| Year | Year | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 14 | 1950 | 14 | 1953 | 8 |
| 1948 | 2 | 1951 | — | 1954 | 1 |
| 1949 | 20 | 1952 | 12 | 1955 | 21 |
One child died early in 1956 from lobar pneumonia having had
poliomyelitis in 1955 and this was a contributing factor to her death.
Summary of Notified Cases of Acute Poliomyelitis, 1955.
| No. | Date of Notification | Sex | Age | Paralysis as at May, 1956 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24. 6.55 | Female | 11 | Right leg and left leg. Wears calipers. |
| 2 | 27. 6.55 | Female | 6/12 | None. |
| 3 | 21. 7.55 | Male | 6 | Left arm and hand. |
| 4 | 21. 7.55 | Male | 2 | Slight deformity of right shoulder. |
| 5 | 5. 8.55 | Male | 7 | None. |
| 6 | 5. 8.55 | Female | 40 | Both legs—walks with crutches. |
| 7 | 8. 8.55 | Male | 30 | Right foot. |
| 8 | 9. 8.55 | Male | 5½ | None. |
| 9 | 13. 8.55 | Female | 5/52 | (Died 17.3.56). |
| 10 | 30. 8.55 | Male | 9 | None. |
| 11 | 7. 9.55 | Female | 4 | None. |
| 12 | 16. 9.55 | Female | 6 | Muscles of back. |
| 13 | 16. 9.55 | Female | 2½ | Right side of face. |
| 14 | 23. 9.55 | Male | 8 | Loss of tone of abdominal muscles. |
| 15 | 28. 9.55 | Female | 34 | Right lower leg and foot. |
| 16 | 29. 9.55 | Female | 8 | None. |
| 17 | 18.10.55 | Male | 52 | Left arm and diaphragm. |
| 18 | 3.10.55 | Female | 7 | None. |
| 19 | 29.10.55 | Male | 4½ | Removed from area. |
| 20 | 28.10.55 | Female | 32 | Left leg from the hip. |
| 21 | 1.11.55 | Male | 2 2/12 | Slight paralysis of right leg. |
Whooping Cough.
Of the 48 children who developed whooping cough during the year,
only six had to be removed to hospital. There were no deaths from this
disease.
Information regarding Protection against Whooping Cough will be
found on page 49.