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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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50
POLIOMYELITIS
Forty suspected cases of poliomyelitis were admitted to hospital
and of these eighteen were confirmed, seven being paralytic. The
hospital discharge notes showed that of the seven, four only had
some limb weakness and of these only one needed instruments.
There was no death.
Onset of symptoms occurred in the first case in April, one in
May, five in July, four in August, six in September and one in
October.
Poliomyelitis first became notifiable on 1st September, 1912, and up to 1946, the only year in which there was a greater incidence than the average for years 1946/54 was in 1916 when the total notified was 27, i.e., more than in the peak post-war year of 1947.
| AGE GROUPS | WARDS | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Under 1 | 1-5 | 5-15 | 15-25 | 25-45 | 45-65 | 65 over | Totals | S. Jms St. | High St. | Hoe St. | Wood St. | Hale End | Hi. H. |
| 1946 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1947 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | — | — | 24 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| 1948 | — | 2 | — | — | 1 | _ | _ | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| 1949 | 1 | 6 | 10 | — | 2 | — | — | 19 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 1950 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — |
| 1951 | — | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1952 | — | 5 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 8 | 1 | _ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 1954 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | 4 | 9 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Even in 1947 when there was the biggest outbreak of infantile
paralysis in our history—
Road accidents killed 4,187.
Poliomyelitis only 688.
Road accidents injured 35,000.
Poliomyelitis maimed only 1,000.
The public can help greatly in reducing the incidence by :—
(a) avoiding overcrowded places during epidemics,
(b) strict attention to ordinary hygiene, such as scrupulous
cleanliness, especially after using the toilet, and protection
of food from flies.
Medical authorities are agreed that the severity of the disease
and the extent of paralysis are aggravated by over exertion and
undue fatigue. This applies especially to children and young
adults. Plenty of rest is indicated and avoidance of fatigue when
there are suspicious symptoms and signs during epidemic periods.
One non-paralytic case in a female child of 7 years notified in
July is of interest because her mother suffered from paralytic
poliomyelitis in October 1947. The mother was then considered
to be three months pregnant and in March, 1948, gave birth to