London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Shoreditch 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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Amongst the 19 persons who were re-vaccinated after exposure to infection, and
who suffered from small-pox was one of the three temporary disinfecting officers. He
was advised to get re-vaccinated the morning he commenced work. He was not revaccinated
until 48 hours had elapsed. He commenced work on February 3rd, and
the eruption was out on him on February 16th. He must have been infected the very
first case he went to. His was a very slight attack, the eruption being limited to a
few spots on the arms and back, and one or two on the face. He went about his work
thinking he had a cold, and it was only when he was stripped that the nature of
his disorder became apparent. He was back at work in a fortnight. This was the
only case amongst the members of the sanitary staff consisting of 18 persons who were
more or less exposed to infection daily. When the outbreak occurred those who had
not had small-pox or been recently re-vaccinated, submitted themselves to the
operation.
The occurrence of the small-pox outbreak naturally led to great activity with
respect to vaccination and for two or three months the public vaccinators were
extremely busy. From information furnished by those officers, it appears that the
number of vaccinations and re-vaccinations performed by them in their official capacity
in Shoreditch during the period of the outbreak was 8,533 not including the primary
vaccinations of children under two years of age. Including the vaccinations and
re-vaccinations in the Shoreditch and Holborn Union Workhouses close upon 10,000
persons submitted to the operation. This figure, however, is probably considerably
under the mark as there were numbers of persons belonging to Shoreditch who were
vaccinated without the Borough, and also persons vaccinated by medical men other
than the public vaccinators concerning whom a reliable estimate cannot be formed.
In conclusion a word or two may be said respecting the cost of the outbreak. So far as the Sanitary Authority is concerned, the amount expended was £285 approximately, made up of the following items:—
| £ | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wages for additional disinfecting officers | 157 | 19 | 5 |
| Disinfecting officers' extra services | 48 | 11 | 5 |
| Extra scavenging in infected neighbourhood | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| Clerks for extra services | 3 | 8 | 0 |
| Compensation for disinfection and loss of employment | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| For bedding destroyed and replaced | 8 | 11 | 5 |
| Coals for disinfection and the shelter | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| Food for inmates at shelter | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Printing, postage and stationery | 7 | 0 | 0 |
The cost of the vaccination performed by the officers of the Shoreditch Guardians
on account of the outbreak may be taken as being approximately from £1,600 to
£1,700.
The cost of the outbreak however mainly falls on the shoulders of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board. In the Board's Annual Report for 1901, the cost for the whole of