Comparative Statistical Studies of Epidemics of Poliomyelitis in and About the City of New Haven, 1916-1943 *

During the past thirty years the city of New Haven and adjacent towns have experienced four outbreaks of poliomyelitis. Three of these outbreaks have been extensive; in the other, the cases reported were fewer but there were definitely more than is the usual experience in inter-epidemic years. In 1932 Paul, Trask, and Salinger' published data relating to two of these poliomyelitis epidemics which occurred in New Haven in 1916 and in 1931. In the present report two subsequent epidemics (1935 and 1943) have been studied and added to the data assembled by Paul et al. in 1932. The purpose of this report is (a) to study the geographical distribution of cases within this city and adjacent towns during this 30-year period; (b) to look for any sections of the city and its suburban towns which may have been attacked more consistently, and therefore more severely than others; and (c) to compare the seasonal and age distribution of cases occurring in these epidemics during this same period.