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62
SMALL-POX.
A case of this disease occurred in October. The patient was a woman, 52 years of age,
who had not been vaccinated since infancy. The attack was a severe one, and the disease
confluent in type, but, after being very dangerously ill, she ultimately recovered.
At the onset of symptoms the patient went for advice to a hospital situated outside the
Borough, where she was detained as an in-patient. A few days later the rash appeared, and
the nature of the illness was recognised.
All contacts, both at home and in the hospital, were traced and vaccinated; this was a
task of some magnitude, owing to their number. One contact developed the disease. In this
case vaccination had not been possible until several days after exposure to infection.
Although an attack of Small-pox was not prevented, yet, due to the vaccination, the type of
the disease was rendered very mild.
In September several cases of Small-pox occurred in an adjoining Borough. The
first patient had a very mild attack, and did not consult a doctor; the nature of the illness
was, therefore, not recognised at the time. The subsequent cases who were infected by this
patient were of a severe type, and two deaths occurred. The first patient, prior to discovery
and isolation, had visited a number of places in St. Pancras. These premises were disinfected,
and all contacts kept under observation.
In February some anxiety and a considerable amount of work was caused by the
arrival in the Borough, at a large Hotel, of 157 persons who had been in contact with a case
of Small-pox. These were a party of South African students, male and female, who had
been touring Europe. One member of the party contracted Small-pox of a very severe type,
and died at The Hague. The authorities there would have kept the remainder of the party in
quarantine, but, through tbe intervention of the Medical Officer of the Ministry of Health,
they were released from quarantine and brought to London. A large number required to be
re-vaccinated, and the entire party had to be kept under daily observation for some time.
The position was further complicated by the occurrence of an outbreak of German Measles
during the Small-pox incubation period. Considerable care had to be exercised, owing to the
fact that an initial rash of Measles type occasionally occurs at the onset of an attack of Smallpox.
Fortunately no other cases of the latter disease occurred.
VACCINATION.
The following table is drawn up from returns, kindly supplied by the Clerk to the
Guardians, in respect of children whose births were registered in the Parish of St. Pancras from
January 1st to December 31st, 1925:—