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16
Typhoid Fever in Prince Edward's and Windsor Roads.—The first
cases of Typhoid Fever notified from Prince Edward's Road were those of
Kate H. from number 20, and Mary M. from number 14, both notifications
being received on the 5th September. The former was removed to hospital,
the latter was nursed at home. Both of these girls worked at different
places and so far as could be ascertained the sources of contagion must have
been different. The next cases were notified on the 14th September, viz.,
Annie S. from number 68, and Emily K. from number 22; the former was
removed to hospital on the 23rd and the latter on the 14th September. The
next cases notified were Charles M., Mrs. M. and Hannah M. from number
14, all of them being members of the same family, as Mary M. was nursed
at home. The cause of these secondary cases were no doubt due to the
nursing at home of Mary M.; for it was subsequently ascertained that
Hannah slept in the same bed with Mary while she was ill, that Mrs. M.
nursed Mary and attended to the rest of the family; and Charles had free
access to the room, where Mary was lying ill. The next case to be notified
was George S. from number 70. He was immediately removed to the
infirmary. On the 22nd, Phillip H. of number 28, and Charles J. H.
of number 16 were notified. These were both nursed at home under
favourable conditions, and no further case occurred in these houses. On the
3rd October, Henry S. was notified, on the 20th October, Clara S., and on the
21st Charles S. from the same address. The last three cases were no doubt
secondary cases contracted from Annie S., removed to hospital on the 23rd
September. Annie was nursed at home more than a week before removal,
Clara sleeping in the same bed with her, and Charles and the father having
free access to the room occupied by Annie.
In connection with the secondary cases of Typhoid Fever occurring at
Nos. 14 and 68, Prince Edward's Pvoad, it may be remarked that although
cases of Typhoid Fever might very well be nursed at home, where the nursing
and isolation are good; yet if either of these requisites are wanting and the
most scrupulous care is not taken in the immediate destruction of the excreta
of the patient, the disease is very likely to be contracted by other members
of the same family coming into contact with the patient. The above
secondary cases were without doubt contracted in this way. With respect to
the origin of the primary cases, the circumstances of each one were carefully
enquired into as it was notified. Of these primary cases, only one attended
any school; the others were either engaged at home or employed at different
work places, and at these work places there was no special incidence of
Typhoid Fever. Of the milk supply in one case, milk was never taken, and
that for the other cases came from five different vendors. The water supplied
to these dwellings came direct from mains of the East London Water
Company, in common with the whole of the water supply to Prince Edward's
and Windsor Roads.
With respect to the sanitary condition of the houses occupied by the
patients, an inspection was made after each notification had been received,
and some defects were found. For instance, in five of the houses the walls
and ceiling were found to be dirty, in three the yard paving was defective, in
two the w.c. pans were foul, in two the w.c. pans were defective, and the flush
bad. In two houses no defect was found. The usual notices were served
and defects remedied. I cannot attribute the primary cases to any or either
of these defects.