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12
The death rate throughout the whole Borough was .24 per 1,000 of the
population, while that for the whole of London was .15 per 1,000.
Some people are criminally careless in exposing their children when in an
infected condition, and thus cause danger to others. The following is a flagrant case,
and the Public Health Committee decided to take proceedings against the mother,
as an example to others.
On January 20th, Mrs. J., of Jamaica Street, was summoned for wilfully
exposing her daughter Hilda in a public place while she was suffering from diphtheria.
A doctor at the London Hospital notified the case on November 15th, and the
certificate was received on November 16th. On the latter date, the Sanitary
Inspector visited the premises and found that the child was at school. She was
immediately sent for. He handed the "Instructions on the Spread of Diphtheria,"
as well as the removal certificate to Mrs. J. As there were four children in the
family, and there were no means of isolation at home, arrangements were made
to have the patient removed to the Fever Hospital on the same day. When the
ambulance called, the mother refused to allow the child to be removed, and the
Inspector called on the following day to enquire the reason. Mrs. J. informed him
that the child was quite well and she was not going to allow her to be removed to
the Fever Hospital, and that she was about to take her to see a doctor. The Inspector
cautioned her against taking the child into the street, and told her of her liability
for exposing her while in an infected condition. He then left, and communicated
with me through the telephone. I arranged to call at the premises a few minutes
afterwards, and the Inspector on returning to meet me, saw Mrs. J. and the
patient walking in the street. When Mrs. J. saw the Inspector, she said, " I am
going to take Hilda to Dr. F. or Dr. P." The Inspector again told hen that she
was doing wrong in bringing the child into the street. I met the Inspector as arranged,
and we called at Dr. F.'s surgery, as well as Dr. P.'s. It was now after 12 noon,
and these surgeries were closed. We then went to the London Hospital, and there
found Mrs. J. and her daughter sitting in the waiting room with about 20 to 30
other people. Arrangements were made to have the child removed to the Fever
Hospital, and the premises were disinfected.
On January 20th the summons was heard at the Thames Police Court, when
Mrs. J. was fined £5.
Typhus Fever.
Four cases of Typhus Fever were notified during the year; all occurred in
St. George-in-the-East.
Typhus Fever is a contagious disease, which is usually associated with conditions
of filth ar.d overcrowding.
F. C., aged 19, of Cornwall Street, St. George-in-the-East, was notified on
March 20th to be suffering from Enteric Fever, and was removed on the same day