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The reports of the medical officers of health supply the following more detailed information as
to cases of smallpox occurring in 1897—
Paddington.—The single case of supposed smallpox was erroneously diagnosed, and was sent
home from hospital the day after removal.
Fulham.—Six persons were certified to be suffering from smallpox. In each case it was found
that the diagnosis was incorrect. Five proved to be chicken-pox and one erythema.
St. James, Westminster.—Three cases of smallpox, all adults, were removed to hospital from one
house.
Marylebone.—The medical officer of health in his monthly report for May makes the following
statement—
"A curious sequence of cases of smallpox occurred from a St. Marylebone centre. Two ladies from
Paris resided from the 2nd to the 14th of April at a house tenanted by a medical practitioner in the
parish, and went away ill on or about the 14th of April. The nature of the illness does not seem to be
known. On April 15th the wife of the medical man, it is said, was down with some eruption and
pneumonia; on the same date the servant was ill, and the doctor considered she was suffering from
chicken-pox, and isolated the case at the top of the house. He allowed her mother, who lived in another
parish, to come and nurse her; the girl's sister was also in the same house. On or about April 29th,
the mother of the servant was taken ill in another parish and ultimately sent to the hospital, on the
10th of May, as smallpox. The servant's sister developed smallpox, also mistaken for chicken-pox,