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observation. The final diagnosis in these seven cases was as
follows:—
Tonsillitis 2
Influenza 1
Primary tuberculosis 1
B. coli pyelitis 1
Septicaemia 1
Arthritis of elbow 1
Eight of the nine confirmed cases of poliomyelitis were removed
to hospital for treatment. Two of these patients-a girl aged 6
years and a girl aged 7 years—contracted severe bulbar types of
the disease and died shortly after admission to hospital.
Measles.
The number of cases of measles notified during the year (707)
was the highest recorded since the disease became notifiable in 1939.
Food Poisoning.
Two cases of food poisoning were notified during the year.
One of these patients, a baby aged 11 months, was seriously ill,
and was removed to a general hospital for treatment. After admission
the infant was found to be suffering from an infection due
to salmonella typhimurium. Investigations as to how this case of
food poisoning arose were rendered difficult by the lapse of time
which occurred before the diagnosis was established. Other members
of the household were investigated bacteriologically but with negative
results.
The patient was ultimately transferred to the Wimbledon
Infectious Diseases Hospital and remained under treatment there, as
a temporary carrier of salmonella typhimurium for three months.
At the end of this period the child was found to be bacteriologcally
clear and was discharged to her home.
The remaining case of food poisoning notified was that of an
adult, whose illness appeared to have been connected with an outbreak
which occurred at her place of employment in Westminster,
where a number of people were taken ill. Investigations both at
Westminster and in connection with the patient living in Wimbledon
failed to reveal the causative organisms or the source of infection.
Gastro-Enteritis.
There was one death from primary infective gastro-enteritis
during the year in a child under 2 years of age. The patient, a girl
aged 7 months, was admitted to a hospital at Lewisham, and died
there.
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