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14
Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis.
There was no epidemic of these diseases in Tottenham. During
the year 10 cases of poliomyelitis and 5 cases of polioencephalitis
were notified. The poliomyelitis cases, which were all notified
between 20th August and 29th November, were scattered throughout
the borough, and not localised in any particular area.
Measles.
There were 967 notifications of this disease during 1949, an
increase of 142 on the previous year. The prevalence of this disease
is considered to have a biennial cycle, so that the 1949 figure should
be compared with 1947 rather than 1948. This comparison shows a
reduction of 260.
During the year 61 cases, with some complication, were removed
to hospital, but no deaths were caused by this disease.
Whooping Cough.
During the year there were 199 notifications of this disease,
but in no case did death result. 10 cases with complications were
admitted to hospital.
The following is an extract from the preliminary statement of
the Medical Eesearch Council upon the Whooping Cough Trials
which are being carried out in Tottenham and certain other districts:—
"As part of the investigation, the Whooping Cough
Immunization Committee organized a series of controlled field
trials in which the experience of children inoculated with
pertussis vaccine could be compared with that of control
children.
Large-scale trials have now been carried out in collaboration
with the Medical Officers of Health of Oxford, Manchester,
Tottenham, Wembley, Edmonton, Leeds and West Ham,
using a number of different vaccines of both British and American
origin.
Each trial was planned in a similar manner. Children
mostly between the ages of 6 and 18 months, whose parents
agreed that they should take part, were divided by the method
of random sampling into two groups. The children in one