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39
children all went to different schools and the patients did not live
particularly close to one another. In two instances contact with
another case was established. In two cases undue exertion may
have played a part in establishing the disease and in one case tonsillectomy
seems to have been the cause. There is no evidence that
swimming baths, ponds or the river played any part in the spread
of the infection.
I regret to have to report that a Richmond child who suffered
a severe attack of acute poliomyelitis in October, 1949, is still in the
South Middlesex Fever Hospital. During the whole of the period
he has been treated in an Iron Lung. Recovery of the muscles has
been slow and, at the present time, he is able to remain out of the
Iron Lung for about 3 hours each day.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES—ADMISSIONS TO
HOSPITAL
Formerly all cases of infectious disease requiring admission to
hospital were sent to the South Middlesex Fever Hospital. Under
the recent re-organisation this hospital draws patients from a larger
area with the result that it quite often happens that no bed is
available. Under these circumstances patients are admitted to
Tolworth Isolation Hospital or perhaps to another hospital in Surrey
or in the L.C.C. area of the South West Metropolitan Regional
Hospital Board. During the year out of the total of 75 cases 43
patients were admitted to the South Middlesex Fever Hospital.
Although these arrangements seem to have worked smoothly I
regret that the change has been necessary. The old arrangement
was more convenient for all concerned and personal contact between
the Medical Officer of Health and the Medical Superintendent was
of great value.
LABORATORY WORK
General practitioners send specimens for examination to the
laboratory of the Royal Hospital, Richmond.
In addition the following laboratory facilities are available to
the Public Health Department: —
CENTRAL PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY, COLINDALE
AVENUE, N.W.9.
For advice, special immunising agents and special investigations.