View report page

9
the case of an old man who shared a flat with his physically handicapped
daughter. He had become ill and his daughter had made great
efforts on his behalf but was quite unable to provide the care and
attention he required.
He refused to leave his home but as hospital treatment was
urgently needed, an application was made for a Removal Order under
the National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951.
He was removed the same day to Barnes Hospital where he
remained quite willingly until his death a few weeks later.
SECTION 'F' — PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER,
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
Measles.
The usual biennial epidemic of measles occurred, there being no
less than 654 cases notified during the year. Several cases were quite
severe but all made satisfactory recoveries.
Whooping Cough.
Only 8 cases were notified and these were not severe. The high
proportion of infants immunized against this disease is undoubtedly
reducing both the incidence and the severity.
Poliomyelitis.
One case of non-paralytic poliomyelitis was notified. This was a
little girl aged four years who sickened in June and was proved
bacteriologically to be infected with polio virus type I. She had been
immunized, together with the other members of the family, one year
previously. She made a complete recovery. Bacteriological investigations
showed that both parents and her sister and brother were also
infected with the same organism, but no other members of the family
suffered any ill-effects.
It seems very probable that one or more members of this family
escaped serious and crippling disease through taking advantage of the
immunization scheme.
Dysentery.
Fifteen cases were notified during the year. Of these, fourteen
were due to Shigella sonnei, an organism which is prevalent throughout
the country and which causes a mild form of dysentery. There
was some spread of the disease amongst members of the families
concerned, but there was no outbreak in a school or other institution.