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146
Small Pox.—Although we apprehended an invasion oF
this disease on account of the prevalence of it throughout
London generally, there were only two cases of it
notified during the year. Both cases occurred in the
same house in Roehampton village, the victims being a
mother and daughter. The latter was the first attacked.
She evidently had caught the infection while visiting
friends in London. The disease had made considerable
progress before a medical man was called in. Immediately
after notification the patient was removed to hospital, the
room disinfected and the bedding burned. Vaccination
was urged on the mother, who had been nursing her
daughter, but it was not carried out. In about a week
after the daughter's removal to hospital the mother was
attacked and sent away likewise, the same precautions
being taken as after the first case. So far theRe has been
no recurrence of the disease in the parish.
Influenza.—Ten deaths were registered as being
attributed to influenza. In all these cases, however,
the immediate cause of death was some complications
generally in connection with the lungs.
Scarlet Fever.—107 notifications were received of this
disease, with five deaths. Forty-four of these cases
were removed to hospital. We had, therefore, in this
parish a serious invasion of this disease. Although
forty-four of these cases were removed to hospital, it is
right to add that in many instances their removal was
delayed as long as ten or twelve days on account of
want of accommodation at the Asylums Board hospitals.
I attribute, to some extent, the prevalence of the
epidemic within our district to this delay. The proper
isolation of most of these patients at their own homes
was a mere impossibility. Since the opening of the
hospital at Tooting, however, the removal of all our
infectious cases has been effected very promptly.