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Notifications were received relating to 29 persons suffering, or suspected
to be suffering, from Poliomyelitis; twenty-eight cases were removed to
hospital. In 15 instances the disease was confirmed, 8 being of the paralytic
and 7 of the non-paralytic type. Details of confirmed cases are:-
Sex Age Muscles affected
Paralytic - Male %. years (nursed at home) .- right deltoid.
Female 4 years - right thigh and leg.
Female 4½ years - right quadriceps and right
anterior tibial groups.
Male 8 years - left foot.
Female 5½ years - right foot.
Female 32 years - right hip and leg.
Female 4 years - right leg.
Male 4 years - right leg and foot.
Non-paralytic - Males 6 years, 7½ years and 6 years.
Females 3½ years, 44 years, 11 years and 33 years.
The diagnoses in the 14 non-confirmed cases were:-
Influenza, Catarrhal condition, Meningism, Tonsillitis, Coryza, Emphysema,
Gastritis, Paronychia of left toe and "disease not specified".
Detailed enquiries were made at the home of each case and all close contacts
visited three times a week for 21 days, which is regarded from a practical
point of view as covering the maximum incubation period. In no instance did
more than one case occur in the same family or house.
DYSENTERY. It will be noted that 134 cases were notified, as compared with
88 in the previous year. The incidence of this disease has been on the
increase since the war years. It is, of course, possible that the increase
may in large part be accounted for by more accurate diagnosis resulting from
the greatly increased bacteriological facilities now available. The disease
is for the most part of a mild type though in young and weakly infants it can
be dangerous. It is particularly troublesome when outbreaks occur in nurseries
and other close communities.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM. This disease is defined in the Public Health
(Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations as "a purulent discharge from the eyes of
an infant, commencing within 21 days from the date of its birth". Of the 20
cases notified 19 were in relation to infants born in hospital and one born at
home. The onset of the disease varied from the day of birth to 14 days after
birth. Particulars of all cases notified were reported tothe London County
Council Divisional medical staff who arranged for a health visitor to make
enquiries and to report as to the ultimate effect on vision. Great advances
have been made in the modern treatment of this condition and in no case did
any impairment of vision result.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA. The Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations of 1951 require
medical practitioners to notify the Medical Officer of Health of "any febrile
condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit
(38° Centigrade) or more has occurred within 14 days after childbirth or miscarriage".
Under the old Regulations it was the custom for the Authority of
the area in which the woman normally resided to accept the notification but
under the present system the Authority of the area in which the person is confined,
irrespective of home address, has to accept notifications relating to
all cases occurring in the area; as far as Hackney is concerned this results
in an increase in the number of notifications to be accepted. Of the total
of 148 cases 93 occurred in a local maternity hospital, 50 in other hospitals
in the Borough and in five cases they related to home confinements. Mastitis,
breast abscess and uterine infection were the main causes of the condition.