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The disease was somewhat prevalent in the parish immediately
before the Western Hospital was re-opened on May 17th. The
epidemic, moreover, had been constantly increasing in severity in the
eastern and northern districts of London, and gradually extending
to the other districts, since the end of March. But there was a
decided rise in the number of cases in Kensington immediately after
the re-opening of the hospital, as shewn in the above table, for, to
confine attention for the moment to South Kensington, there were
26 fresh cases recorded in the two weeks June 1st— 14th. Of
these 26 cases 18, "infected" on May 19th—21st, were "invaded"
after the customary 13 days of incubation, on June 1st—3rd. The
meteorological conditions of the three days, May 19th to 21st,
were not altogether unlike those described by Mr. Power as having
characterised the weather of January 13th—17th, 1881, when the
patients were infected whose illness, a fortnight later, constituted
the " notable outburst" in the special area, viz.: calm; wind
easterly for the most part, and therefore blowing towards the
Fulham District, but without any recorded "pressure," the
horizontal movement, moreover, being much below average.
There was no ozone (at Greenwich), but mist and fog prevailed,
especially on the first two days; no rain; degree of humidity 62
(complete saturation = 100), temperature 54°.8, barometer 30.03
inches.
The facts of the remarkable outburst referred to, were as
follows:- Fulham Hospital had been opened at the middle of
December, 1880, and by January 8th, 1881, 32 acute and 110
convalescent cases had been admitted. Of the acute cases, four
belonged to the Borough of Chelsea, which comprises the parishes
of Chelsea and Kensington, and the Fulham Union; two came from
within the special area, i.e., from within a mile of the hospital.
In the two weeks, January 9th—22nd, some 48 acute and 22 convalescent
cases were admitted; seven of the acute cases were
Borough cases, five belonging to the special area. No particular
importance was attached to these local cases. But, says Mr.
Power, "in the next succeeding fortnight (January 23rd—February
5th), a very unexpected event took place—a great outburst of