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TYPHOID FEVER AND PARA TYPHOID FEVER:- No case was notified.
DYSENTERY:- Thirty-five cases were notified. Twenty-eight
of these cases were from an institution. Of the district cases,
six were of the mild Sonne type. One case was of the severe
Flexner type, and died of complication by appendicitis. The
danger of the intrusion of Eastern types of Dysentery following
demobilisation of the forces has to be recognised, and all cases
of Dysentery should have early medical treatment with the effective
Sulphonamide drugs which can quickly reduce the infection.
Scrupulous cleanliness of the hands and of utensils by all
engaged in the handling of food is essential for the elimination
of this disease.
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER:- Two adult cases were notified. Both
recovered. Early treatment with Sulphonamide drugs is essential
to prevent mortality.
ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS:-One case of a child aged 8 years was
notified and proved fatal from involvement of the respiratory
centre. This disease is caused by a virus, an ultramicroscopic
organism. The infection lies in the nasopharynx and in the wall
of the bowel. It may be transmitted by spray from the breath
or from the contamination of food from the stools of infected
persons. Carriers who harbour the infection cannot be detected
easily. Contacts may be infectious for a period of three weeks
from the time of contact, and should restrict their mode of life
to reduce the possibility of transmission of infection. Patients
are infectious for three days before the onset of symptoms. The
early symptoms are fever with vague signs of irritation of the
nervous system which may be attributed to Influenza, These
early symptoms may be followed by limited paralysis, or may
disappear for several days and recur with the classical signs
of the disease, of which pain and rigidity in the back of the
neck is the most prominent and constant. In some patients the
infection is located in the spinal cord while in others the brain
stem is involved with the great danger of paralysis of the vital
brain centres including the centre for respiration, A large
number of cases recover spontaneously without paralysis, and
during epidemics it is probable that many cases of very mild
illness unrecognised as being related to this infection occur,
and that the immunity of the population rises progressively by
subminimal infections. The number of severe paralytic cases
is small in proportion to the number of persons probably infected,
and it may be hoped that as an epidemic wave orogresses the
number of non-paralytic cases will rise proportionately with an
increase in general immunity, and that the latter phase of an
epidemic may be less productive of paralysis than the first.
During epidemics people should avoid crowded indoor
assemblies. Adequate rest and sleep are essential protectives.
Scrupulous personal and domestic hygiene including hand washing
after defaecation, disinfection of lavatories, and the protection
of the larder and kitchen from flies, are all measures which may
help to reduce infection.
PNEUMONIA:- Of forty-four deaths occurring from all forms
of Pneumonia, three cases were notified previous to death. The
total number of notified cases arising in the district was
thirty-two.
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