H.—3l.

The Europeans deaths by sex and age-groups were as follows :■ —

Table 14.—Deaths of Europeans from Poliomyelitis.

PROGRESSION CASES. A card index of all cases throughout the Dominion showing signs of muscle involvement was compiled and progress reports obtained up to March, 1938. Cases not then shown as recovered will be followed up until improvement ceases, and ultimately it will be possible to assess the permanent damage caused by the epidemic. The table given below shows for the 896 cases which occurred between Ist December, 1936, and 30th November, 1937, the position as at March, 1938 : —

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. In his report on the epidemic of poliomyelitis in 1916 in the Wellington District, Dr. Sydney Smith, stated :— " It will be seen that over the district as a jwhole, and in each individual locality, there has been a period of very high temperatures —-higher than any of the previous five years and a fairly low rainfall. The higher temperatures coincided with the greatest number of cases occurring week by week, and the notifications of cases fell with the fall in temperature." No such correlation as that indicated above occurred in the recent epidemic. The Medical Officer of Health, Dunedin, states :— " I know of no climatic or other reason to account for its commencing a month or so earlier than usual in Dunedin and developing to danger point before Christmas. The temperatures in general were low and the rainfall fairly heavy. There was, moreover, no apparent relation between the daily incidence of infection and the daily temperature and rainfall." The Medical Officer of Health, Chfistchurch, states in his report " This outbreak was unusual in one respect, that, contrary to anticipation with the drop in the mean temperature during the months of April and May, these months proved to be the peak months, a rapid decline in the notifications taking place in June and subsequent months."

94

Males. Females. Under 1 year .. l$year .. .. .. .. .. 1 2jyears .. .. .. .. 1 3 years .. .. .. .. 1 4 years Under 5 years .. .. .. .. 2 1 5-10 years .. .. .. 4 3 10-15 years .. .. .. .. 5 1 15-20 years .. .. .. .. 4 3 20-25 years .. .. .. .. 5 25-30 years .. .. .. .. 4 2 30-40 years .. .. .. .. 1 1 40-50 years .. .. .. .. 4 1 50 years and over .. .. .. 1 Totals .. .. .. 30 12 I

■—-— Males. Females. • Total. Died of poliomyelitis .. .. .. .. 32 14 46 Died from other causes .. .. .. .. 3 1 4 Recorded as recovered .. .. .. .. 92 94 186 Recorded as markedly improved .. .. .. 84 74 158 Recorded as moderately improved .. .. .. 76 64 140 Little or no improvement .. .. .. .. 60 46 106 No progress reports .. .. .. .. 8 8 16 Total paralytic cases .. .. .. .. 355 301 656 Total aparalytic cases .. .. .. .. 144 96 240 Total cases .. .. .. .. 499 397 896