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Case E. Paralysis of left leg. Boy aged 5 years. Though limping, is now able to walk
and run. Still making progress. Attending hospital
for physiotherapy treatment.
Case F. Mild paralysis of Boy aged 5 years. Full recovery,both legs.
1954: Case A. Facial and palatial Full recovery,paralysis.
1952: Case C. Paralysis of left leg. Boy now aged 4 years. Slight paralysis persists and
growth of left leg is retarded. Still making progress.
Family now removed from district into Essex.
Case D. Paralysis of both Boy now aged 6 years. Full recovery of power. Some
legs. shortening of right leg and foot, but this has decreased
during past year. Still making progress.
Case F. Paralysis of limbs Adult female. Continues to make slight progress. Both
and trunk. legs paralysed, both arms weak. Attends hospital for
physiotherapy.
Case G. Paralysis of both Boy now aged 15 years. Continues to make progress.
legs. Walks well. Wears calliper for right leg, but can do
without it for considerable periods.
1950: Case A. Paralysis in left leg. Adult male. Residual partial paralysis left leg. At work.
Condition now appears stationary.
Case C. Paralysis of arms, Girl now aged 20 years. Residual paralysis in legs.
legs and trrnk. Travels in motor wheel chair and wears pelvis support
and caliper. Condition appears stationary.
1949: Case B. Paralysis anterior Girl now aged 15 years. Recovery good. Full power of
tibials, etc. all limbs except for slight limitation of flexion of left foot.
An Analysis of the Progress of all Paralytic Poliomyelitis Cases Occurring in
Southall since 1949 is as follows:—
Number of Notified
Cases Confirmed Still
as Paralytic Making Condition Full
Year Poliomyelitis Progress Stationary Died Recovery
1949 14 1 - 2 11
1950 6 1 2 - 3
1951 9 - 9
1952 8 4 - - 4
1953 4 - - 2 2
1954 2 - - 1 1
1955 8 2 -2 4
It will be seen from these figures that of 51 cases of paralytic poliomyelitis occurring
during these seven years, 34 recovered completely, regaining full power of every muscle
affected.
In early September, it appeared that the number of cases of poliomyelitis occurring
in the County of Middlesex was becoming very high, and a meeting was held at the
Middlesex Guildhall in order that the situation might be discussed and any suitable
combined action taken by Medical Officers of Health. However, although poliomyelitis
in the County reached a high level, and the number of respirator cases, i.e. cases where the
muscles of the lungs and the diaphragm were particularly affected, were as high as they have
ever been reported to be, Southall was able to maintain comparatively low figures, the total
number of confirmed paralytic cases being less than in the years 1949 and 1951.
Influenza
In the first week of January, reports received from the Continent of Europe began to
indicate the onset of an epidemic of influenza of the severe (Virus A) type. It was noticed
also that the sickness incidence figures of the Ministry of National Insurance were rising
rapidly.
Arrangements were made whereby daily information could be obtained from the local
general practitioners concerning the incidence of cases of influenza in their medical practice,
and by arrangement with the Ministry of Health, and the Colindale and Ealing Public
Health Laboratories, a plan was made whereby one of the local general practitioners should
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