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Acute Poliomyelitis.
Three cases were notified in the Borough during the year.
During 1947 there was a considerable outbreak of poliomyelitis throughout the county
and a fairly high number of cases of the disease were in neighbouring boroughs, but
Southall was fortunate in this year in having only three notifications. One of these cases
developed a considerable degree of paralysis which was treated at Stanmore Orthopaedic
Hospital.
There were no deaths from this disease.
Notifiable Diseases during the Year.
For the incidence of various infectious diseases, excluding tuberculosis, notified during
the year, under age groups, locality, and certain cases occurring among school children,
see Appendix, Tables XXV, XXVI and XXVII.
Infectious Disease Visits.
During the year, the health visitors paid 458 visits with reference to cases of infectious
disease. 57 swabs were taken. The total number of children examined by the health
visitors in the schools was 705.
Uncleanliness and Verminous Conditions in School Children.
Number of children on roll at 31st December, 1947 7,500
Total number of examinations of children in the schools by the school
nurses 29,736
Number of individual children found unclean 785
Number of children cleansed under arrangements made by the Local
Education Authority 451
The number of school children inspected for cleanliness was higher in 1947 by about
3,000 than in the previous year, and it is very satisfactory to know that the number of
children found to require cleansing was 370 less than in 1946.
The discovery of early cases in school is of the utmost importance in the prevention
of the spread of infestation by vermin, and mothers are given precise instructions as to the
methods of dealing with lightly infested cases in a thorough manner.
No legal proceedings were taken during the year with regard to uncleanliness or
verminous conditions relating to children attending schools in the Borough.
Prevention of Blindness.
No action has been taken under Section 176 of the Public Health Act, 1936, by this
authority for the prevention of blindness or for the treatment of persons suffering from
any disease or injury to the eyes. Several persons are, however, receiving assistance from
organisations who care for the blind.
Tuberculosis.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
The number of new cases notified during the year was 93.
Other Forms of Tuberculosis.
The number of new cases notified during the year was 12.
Of the total notifications 46 were notified from institutions (sanatoria 4, County
Council hospitals 24, general hospitals 18).
Deaths from Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis of the respiratory system, 27; other forms, 3.
For details of new cases notified and deaths in 1947, see Appendix, Table XXVIII,
and the occupation of new cases, see Appendix, Table XXIX.
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