Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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CASE T - Adult male - paralysis of right arm and leg. Fully recovered.
Cases notified in 19 56:
CASE U - Boy aged 6 years - paralysis left leg. Residual weakness.
Attending Physiotherapy Centre. Improving.
CASE V - Girl aged 3 years - minimal weakness both legs. Fully recovered.
Confirmed cases | Di ed | Still making progress | Condition stationary | Fu1ly recovered | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1949 | 4 | l | 3 | ||
1950 | 9 | 3 | 6 | ||
1951 | - | - | |||
1952 | 9 | 2 | l | 1 | 5 |
1953 | 6 | 1 | 5 | ||
1954 | 3 | l | 2 | ||
1955 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
1956 | 2 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
* 1 now left district
It can be seen from these figures that of 38 confirmed cases of paralytic
poliomyelitis occurring during the past 8 years, 24 have made a complete recovery
with full power and normal movement of all muscles.
In the early part of the year, a campaign was inaugurated by the County
Health Department to obtain the registration of children between the ages of 2
and 9 years, for vaccination against poliomyelitis. Supplies of a British
vaccine were beginning to be made available, and as soon as registration was
completed, a start was made in the County clinics with the inoculation of
selected groups from amongst the registered children.
The supply of vaccine was very slow in coming through and although the
number of children registered was 1,745, at the end of 1956, 190 children had
received two injections and 26 one injection. It had been hoped that the
numbers of children inoculated during the year would have given some guidance
as to the percentage effectiveness of this treatment, but the number of vaccinations
being very low and also the actual incidence of poliomyelitis being low
in this year, no conclusions could be drawn from the local findings.
-19-