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48
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Of the 143 cases, 114 were notified since January 1st. The
chart shows the cases notified each week, and also that the outbreak
was at its height in the Borough in the first and second
weeks of April, when 12 and 13 cases respectively were notified.
In the week ending August 2nd three cases were notified from the
same house, and since then there have been no further cases.
All the cases were removed to Hospital with the exception of
one fatal case of Haemorrhagic Small-pox. This case was buried
in 24 hours, and the clothing and bedding, etc., destroyed.
No case occurred in a re-vaccinated person, and only four
among persons vaccinated or re-vaccinated in the incubation
period. One of these was re-vaccinated within three days, but
the re-vaccination was unsuccessful. Another was re-vaccinated
on the fifth day, a third on the sixth, and a fourth, an unvaccinated
infant, was not vaccinated until nine days after exposure to
infection.
As soon as a notification was received a telephone message
was sent to the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and in nearly all
the cases removal was effected within an hour. In one or two
cases, owing to fog, the removal was delayed, but in no cases for
more than a few hours. The Sanitary Inspector then called at the
home, took down all the particulars as to occupation, source of
infection, schools and contacts, and also waited for the disinfecting
staff, to give instructions as to the amount of disinfection to be
carried out. A personal visit was also made by myself in most
cases within a few hours, and in a large number of cases before
the patient had been removed, for the purpose of ascertaining the
source of infection and of supervising personally the arrangements
for disinfection, and vaccination of contacts.
The name, address, and occupation of all contacts residing
in the Borough (880 in number) were noted, and these contacts
were visited and re-vaccination advised. The Public Vaccinator
was also informed at once, and a copy of the Notification sent to
the Vaccination Officer of the District. The name, address, occupation,
and place of employment of any contacts residing
outside the Borough (103 in number) were forwarded to the