Infantile paralysis in Massachusetts during 1910.

  • Massachusetts. State Board of Health.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Infantile paralysis in Massachusetts during 1910. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Year. Cases. Cities and Citifts and Towns with Cases. Year. Cases. Towns with Cases. 1907 234 75 1909 923 136 1908 136 47 1910 845 153 The distribution of the cases is seen in the map, from which it will be seen that marked epidemic centers existed in Springfield and Fall River, with a suggestion of a minor epidemic center in Boston. The number of cities and towns affected was larger in 1910 than in 1909, when there was a greater total number of cases. Deficiency Rainfall, 1904-10, Inclusive {Inches). Year. Cases in State. Actual. Normal. Deficiency. 1904, . 43.81 45.16 —1.35 1905 - 37.60 - —7.66 1900, - 43.21 - —1.95 1907 234 44.49 - —0.67 1908 136 37.61 - —7.55 1909, 923 42.10 - -3.06 1910 845 35.50 —9.42 —31.66 A consideration of this table shows that for the last four years the driest years have not been attended by the largest number of cases in Massachusetts. The comparison of the rainfall by months and the incidence of the disease shows that in 1910 August was the driest of the three summer months, and also the one in which the largest number of cases occurred. August was also the month with the highest mean temperature, so that both drought and heat were at their height when the largest number of cases occurred. Analysis of Cases thoroughly studied {200 Cases in 186 Families). Total number of children, Number of contemporaneous illnesses in children and adults, . Number of children paralyzed, Number of adults paralyzed, Possible abortive cases, . 488 . 253 . 172 . 28 200 . . An investigation of the nearness of the affected house to railroad and highroad showed no preponderating number close to either, 15 per cent.