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1910] 172
were 4 cases of Erysipelas. In Queensland Road there was only 1 case of
Scarlet Fever, 1 of Diphthenia, and 1 of Erysipelas. In both roads all the
cases occurred in separate houses, which is hardly what one would expect in
such crowded and low class streets, and speaks volumes for the speed with
which the patients were isolated.
In George's Road, another crowded street, there were only 4 cases of
infectious disease, 2 of Scarlet Fever, and 2 of Diphtheria, and here again
the cases occurred in separate houses.
It will be noticed that 15 cases of Scarlet Fever and 1 case of Diphtheria
were reported from the Islington Workhouse Schools, which, without doubt,
were introduced from without. These schools have been unfortunate
with respect to Scarlet Fever, which has on several occasions attacked
the children. This disease, once it gains access to suitable soil, that is to
say children who never had the disease, speedily spreads. It does not always
follow that there must be insanitary conditions to have infectious disease.
The Board of Guardians might remember this when they attack the Public
Health administration of Islington, for their attacks have been as undeserved
as would be an attack by the Medical Officer of Health on the cleanliness
and general conduct of their schools, which are most excellent.
It will be noticed, too, that there were 23 cases of Diphtheria among the
young children in the St. John's Workhouse. Dr. James, as soon as he perceived
that an outbreak was probable, consulted the Medical Officer of Health,
with the result that swabs were obtained from the throats of all the children in
the affected ward, and examined bacteriologically, so that it was possible to
isolate every child in whose throat the bacillus diphtheria was found. Thus
the outbreak was stayed.