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1896]
76
It happened that cases numbered 262, 263 and 264 were discovered
in the following manner, for they were never notified.
On July 8th, your Medical Officer received through Dr. Shirley
Murphy, Medical Officer of the London County Council, a letter from
Dr. Scatterty, Medical Officer of Health of Keighly (Yorks), in which
he stated that two cases very like Small Pox had come under his notice,
and that they stated that they had been staying at the "Favorite,"
P.H., Hornsey Rise.
Not knowing of any cases in that neighbourhood, the Medical
Officer made a strict investigation, without eliciting any information.
Fortunately, it came to Inspector Ward's recollection, that some time
previously he had seen a man standing at a door in Hornsey Rise, with
a very sore face, from which matter was oozing. He was at once sought
out (case 263), and was found at work, although alone, and it was
noticed that his face showed unmistakable signs of confluent Small
Pox. He had then completely recovered. It was further discovered
that his wife bad had two or three spots on her face, and enquiries
revealed the following history.
On May 10th, she felt very unwell, with severe pains in her back,
and next day she had a miscarriage. A few days later, two or three
spots appeared on her face, and these were ascribed by her medical
attendant "to the feverish condition of her blood, consequent on her
miscarriage." Nothing more was thought of the matter.
Fourteen days later, however, her husband was attacked with what
must have been confluent Small Pox, if one might judge from the
description given to your medical officer by his wife as well, as from the
pitted condition of his face when he saw him on July 8th.
He had been treated for Chicken Pox, and his wife was informed
by his medital advisers that this was the disease from which he suffered.
During the period of his convalescence he was seen by many
persons in the road with matter running from sores on his face, and he