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37
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.
A memorandum (Memo. 166/Med.) dealing with this disease was issued
by the Ministry of Health at the end of 1932. Among other matters dealt with
in this memorandum, two call for mention here.
The value of convalescent serum if given before the onset of paralysis
receives official recognition.
The action to be taken by the Medical Officer of Health on receipt of
notification or on learning of suspected cases of Poliomyelitis is indicated in
the following terms:—
(a) To aid in securing suitable accommodation, including isolation, for
the patient in hospital or otherwise.
(b) To ensure the precautions required in the light of the information that
the disease is apparently capable of transmission by mild cases or
by even the apparently healthy, and
(c) To make investigation of the associated circumstances including a
search for missed cases.
In addition to the cases mentioned at the head of this section, information
was received in the Department of one case of Acute Encephalo Myelitis in
the person of a young woman, 23 years of age. This, however, is not a
notifiable disease.
Acute Primary Pneumonia.
Acute Influenzal Pneumonia.
The number of cases notified during the year was as follows:—
Acute primary pneumonia 28
Influenzal pneumonia 37
Of the 65 cases thus brought to the notice of the Department, it was
found that 27 were receiving treatment in St. Leonard's Hospital.
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
38, fairly satisfactory 11, unsatisfactory 10.
In addition to the cases of pneumonia notified, as above, 33 cases of
pneumonia not of notifiable type were visited by the District Nursing Association,
who paid in all 639 visits to pneumonia cases.