View report page

42
This disease, which most commonly attacks children, is characterized by
acute feverish onset, with pain in one or more limbs, and is followed by more
or less extensive paralysis.
Frequently it is not diagnosed during the initial stages, and the number
of actual cases is no doubt in excess of the notifications.
The after treatment of the paralysis, which should extend over several
years, is most important. If neglected, children readily become badly
crippled, who under skilled orthopaedic treatment might enjoy normally
active lives. Every effort is made by the Health Visitors to secure that
children under 5 years of age who are afflicted in this way attend hospital and
that the parents carry out the advice given.
On reaching school age these children attend the Hoxton House Physically
Defective School where all are medically inspected and referred to
hospital where necessary.
The Invalid Children's Aid Association render valuable assistance in
the case of children to whom apparatus for the correction of deformity has
been supplied at hospital. A note of the particulars of each case is sent by
the hospital to the Association, whose visitors advise and assist the parents
in all matters relating to the use, repair and inspection of the apparatus
supplied.
Acute Primary Pneumonia.
Acute Influenzal Pneumonia.
The number of cases notified during the year was as follows:—
Acute primary pneumonia 26
Influenzal pneumonia 5
Of the 31 cases thus brought to the notice of the Department, it was
found that 19 were receiving treatment in St. Leonard's Hospital. Of the
cases treated at home: 1 was visited by the Nurses in the Shoreditch and
Bethnal Green District Nursing Association, acting under the direction of
the doctor in charge of the case.
The sanitary condition of the homes visited as a result of these notifications
was found as regards air space, light and ventilation, to be as follows:—
Satisfactory 12, fairly satisfactory 7, unsatisfactory 4.
In addition to the cases of pneumonia notified, as above, 35 cases of
pneumonia not of notifiable type were visited by the District Nursing Association.
Altogether the Association paid 646 visits in connection with 36
cases of pneumonia.
Anthrax.
One case of Anthrax was notified in the person of a young man, 23 years
of age, who was employed as a wool sorter. The patient, who was last at
his place of employment in this Borough on 23rd September, was removed
from his home, also in this Borough, to St. Bartholomew's Hospital on the
following day.