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11
No. of notices served requiring disinfection 39
„ „ „ bedding to be given
up for disinfection 2
No. of cases where bedding was removed for disinfection
95
No. of cases where bedding was destroyed and
compensation given 9
These precautionary measures cost the Board a considerable
sum. The disinfection by steam, carried out by the contractor
for the four quarters of the year, cost £204 19s. 3d., and
the compensation for articles destroyed £4 10s. 6d.
The premises where the infectious cases occurred were all
inspected and examined, and notices served when necessary.
Smallpox has not arisen before in this District while I have
held the post of Medical Officer, and this year it was evidently
introduced by tramps. The first case, and nearly all the
others, occurred in the common lodging-house in Tooleystreet.
Very active steps were taken to deal with the
outbreak. Each case was removed to hospital, and the room
where it occurred was thoroughly fumigated with sulphur,
and afterwards washed with a solution of perchloride of
mercury, and the clothes either destroyed or disinfected by
steam. The great difficulty in the majority of cases was the
diagnosis, most of the attacks being very mild owing to the
patient having been vaccinated when a baby, but unfortunately
not re-vaccinated. Although the most urgent pressure was
put on persons liable to come in contact with these cases to
be re-vaccinated, it was seldom that they would avail themselves
of the opportunity.