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There is reason to think that the incidence of sonne dysentery
amongst the general public is much higher than the notified figures
would appear to indicate, as cases of slight diarrhoea are often not submitted
for bacteriological investigation.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS
Seven cases of poliomyelitis occurred during 1956, all of which were
removed to hospital. Four of the cases were of the paralytic type and 3
non-paralytic. There were no deaths.
Ten other persons were admitted to hospital as suspected cases of
poliomyelitis, but the diagnosis was not sustained.
In 1955 there were 11 confirmed cases.
ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS.
One case occurred in a woman of 32 years who was admitted to
hospital. The source of the infection was not discovered.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
During the year 10 notifications were received, 8 of which occurred
in hospital and 2 at home. Of the hospital notifications 7 of the patients
had addresses outside the Borough.
The Pueperal Pyrexia Regulations 1951 define this illness as any
febrile condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature of
100.4°F. or more has occurred within fourteen days after childbirth or
miscarriage.
In 1955 7 cases were notified.
MEASLES.
There were 64 cases notified during the year compared with 813
in 1955. The comparatively low incidence of this disease was not
unexpected as measles tends to be epidemic in alternate years. The
disease generally remained mild in character and none of the patients
was removed to hospital.
FOOD POISONING.
Eleven cases were notified involving one outbreak and 8 isolated
cases. The single outbreak concerned three members of one family
the mother, a baby of 6 months and a boy of 9 years. The baby became
very ill and was removed to hospital for treatment. After admission,
notification was received that the child was infected with salmonella
typhi-murium. Other members of the household were investigated
bacteriologically and salmonella typhi-murium was isolated in the
mother and boy of 9 years. The baby and the boy responded well to
treatment, but the mother remained a carrier for some considerable time.
The source of the infection was not discovered.
In another case, a girl of 24 years suffered symptoms of food poisoning
after eating pork sausages. The causative agent was believed to
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