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successful vaccination of Maud, signed by a medical man, now
deceased, whose certificates he always viewed with more or
less suspicion. The girl's arm, however, exhibited no marks,
and her mother subsequently admitted that the vaccination
had not "taken." Her father had often boasted that he was
unvaccinated: whether he was so appears to be doubtful; but
humanly speaking his fatal illness was the result of his child's
unprotected state. The remaining children of the family had
been successfully vaccinated by the Public Vaccinator, and notwithstanding
the intensity of the infection to which for a whole
month they had been exposed, one and all escaped. But to
resume:—
Case 3.—Mary J., aged 27, a married woman, ironer by occupation,
was removed from No. 414, Portobello Road (top floor) to the Parish
Infirmary, with febrile symptoms thought to be of a rheumatic nature, on
Wednesday, October 18th. Next day spots appeared on the face. On
the 20th the eruption of small-pox was recognized, and the patient was
removed to Hospital forthwith. On Saturday, 21st, I received the
notification certificate. The house in Portobello Road was visited the same
day with negative results, the residents stating that 110 one was ill. This
statement, as the two next cases show, was untrue.
Case 4.—Alfred H., aged 10, No. 414, Portobello Road (back basement
room) fell ill Monday, October 9th, and was taken to the Dispensary,
at Mary Place, on the nth. There was nothing characteristic in the
symptoms. The boy was seen again on the 14th, and now, there being
spots on the face which excited the medical officer's suspicion, a colleague
was consulted and expressed the opinion that the disease was chicken-pox.
The boy, therefore, was sent home. The mother, however, being anxious
to learn what really was the matter with the boy, took him to St. Mary's
Hospital on Monday, October 16th. Here again the eruption at first
excited suspicion, and the mother was directed to bring the child again
next day, with the result that, after further examination, the doctor came
to the conclusion that the disease was chicken-pox. This boy, who had
been one of Maud K.'s visitors at No. 412, was seen at home by the
District Medical Officer on Monday, October 23rd, small-pox was
then recognized and he was removed to hospital forthwith.
Case 5. — Caroline H., aged 10 (unvaccinated) also of 414, Portobello
Road (first floor) appears to have fallen ill on or about Wednesday,
October 18th. She was seen by the District Medical Officer on Monday,