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
Walthamstow 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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ACUTE ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS
The total notifications during the year were 24. The incidence by months, ages and wards is shown in the following table :—
| Month. | All ages. | Under 1 yr. | 1-5 yrs. | 5-15 yrs. | 15-25 yrs. | 25-45 yrs. | 45-65yrs. | 65 & over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| February | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| March | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| April | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| May | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| June | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| July | 3 | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| August | 10 | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| September | 6 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — |
| October | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| November | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| December | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 24 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | — | — |
ACUTE ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS
The total notifications during the year were 24. The incidence by months, ages and wards is shown in the following table :—
| St. James Street | High Street. | Hoe Street. | Wood Street. | Hale End. | Higham Hill. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| February | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| March | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| April | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| May | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| June | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| July | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| August | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| September | — | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| October | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| November | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| December | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Totals | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
Each case was followed up in an investigation sponsored by
the Medical Research Council. The proportion of cases in the
south-west portion of the Borough was considerable.
None of the cases was fatal, but one very severe case of
paralysis of all four limbs notlified in September still shows little
hope of recovery and still has occasional recourse to an " iron
lung."
There were no cases of Encephalitis Lethargica, nor of Polioencephalitis.