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53
SMALL POX.
During the year there has been only one death from Small Pox. We
had six cases altogether notified to us in various parts of the Hamlet;
the majority were promptly removed to the Hospital Ships, and the
rooms which they had occupied were thoroughly disinfected. We were
able in several of the cases to trace the source of contagion, and
measures were taken to prevent its spread. Happily, there did not
occur a second case to any of the houses.
It is much to be desired that the Asylums Board may be able to
maintain the Ships and excellent arrangements for the transfer of
patients, instead of having recourse to the inland Hospitals which were
undoubted centres of infection to the surrounding neighbourhood.
MEASLES.
The total number of deaths registered, due to this disease, is 55 ; last
year there were 112 cases.
SCARLET FEVER.
During the past year, in almost every district of London, there has
been an epidemic of this disease, in fact, at several periods it
spread with such rapidity as to tax the resources of the Asylums Board's
Hospitals severe'y; but, thanks to their admirable management, they
were able to treat all the cases sent to them. We may congratulate
ourselves that we have such an excellent body as the Asylums Board to
fall back upon, or, I feel sure, the consequence of lack of isolation
would be most disastrous in our crowded locality.
The deaths resulting from this disease in our district were 58, this
was a very small proportion of the number of cases affected. We had
something like 237 notified to us by the various authorities, and in each
case, disinfection was carried out and every means taken to prevent its
spread. The disease was not confined to one locality but was general
all over the Hamlet. I am pleased to say there were only a very few of
the houses in which there was a second case after disinfection had been
carried out.
WHOOPING COUGH.
The mortality from this infantile disease was very great during the
last year and more so during the six months ending March, 1888, and, as
will be seen from the Table of Zymotic Diseases. In a populous district
like Mile End, where isolation cannot be practised, it is scarcely to be
wondered at when once it makes its appearance how difficult it is to
prevent its spread, and how great the mortality from diseases of the
chest which Whooping-cough is the primary cause.
DIPHTHERIA.
This disease has caused 22 deaths. If these cases could be isolated,
I am of opinion that the mortality would be lessened. It is much to be
regretted that there is no public Institution in which such cases are
received, and from the fact that it is highly contagious, I think the matter
should be brought under the notice of the Asylums Board.