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32
Since writing the above Report, I have received the following
Official Statement from the Local Government Board, the result
of Dr. Klein's examination :—
"Whilst microscopically there is much resemblance between
the organisms found and the ordinary 'comma bacilli,' yet
cultivations have in all cases failed to respond to the tests for true
Cholera, hence Dr. Klein assumes that the material sent to him
have not been derived from cases of Asiatic Cholera."
After a long and exhaustive enquiry by the Coronor, aided
by the Officials of the Local Government Board (including
Drs. Bulstrode and Klein), the Jury returned a verdict "That
death was due to Infective Diarrhœa, and added a rider to the
effect that the Coroner should have been allowed a free hand in
dealing with the viscera, and that, as there was no evidence that
the epidemic was not caused by the well water, the Workhouse
well should be permanently closed."
The evidence of Drs. Bulstrode and Klein is given, in extenso,
below.
"Dr. Bulstrode, of the Local Government Board, expressed
the opinion that the epidemic was that of an infectious disease.
He had ascertained that there had been, antecedently to the outbreak
at the Workhouse, cases manifesting similar symptoms
outside the Workhouse, in Greenwich. In his opinion the disease
was introduced from outside, but he could not trace the medium.
He was of opinion that the epidemic was not due to the Workhouse
water. The conclusion at which he had arrived was that it was a
form of infectious Diarrhcea, which was shown bacteriologically not