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Amongst adults, infection may also be spread by their associating
together in numbers, especially where the air space is somewhat
stinted, as in workshops and factories. During the year an
outburst of this kind took place in a workshop in Hackney, which
illustrates some of the possible means of spread amongst workers,
in addition to spread by actual contiguity. I give below the report,
which I presented to the Vestry, as a result of my enquiries:—
I beg to report the following circumstances connected with an outbreak
of diphtheria, associated with sore throat disease, amongst the employes
of a particular establishment in Hackney, and almost entirely confined to
those employed in one particular workroom.
On the fourth of June last I received a medical notification that L. J.,
of Preemont Street, was suffering from diphtheria. An inspection was
immediately made of this patient's home, but no sanitary defect was found
sufficient to account for her illness; and no information was afforded by her
relatives at this time, as to its probable source. In fact, the friends, as is
very common in these cases, considered the illness as one of simple sore
throat; and were sceptical as to the infectious nature of the disease. Subsequent
events, however, soon modified their views. A few days later, on the
twelfth of June, I received an anonymous communication, stating that a
large amount of diphtheria and sore throat disease existed amongst the
work-girls of the establishment above indicated. On that information I
visited the place in question, and ascertained the following facts:—
(1.) Mr. X. (the proprietor) employs on his premises in dress and mantle
making, on an average, forty-three adult females, all of these, with one
exception, living off the premises; and in addition to these he employs one
hundred and fifteen male and female shop assistants, ninety of whom lodge
in the house.
(2.) L. J., above mentioned, was one of the forty-three employed in
this particular workroom; and at the date of my visit, in addition to L. J.,
thirteen other girls were away from business, suffering, it was stated, from
sore throat; that amongst the shop assistants two employed on the first
floor had recently had sore throats, and one also on the ground floor.
On the following day the employes were all examined by the medical
attendant, who found nine more of the work girls were suffering from
inflamed throat or tonsils. These were all sent home until, under medical
advice, they could safely return to work—the workroom in the meantime
being closed for disinfection; and a thorough examination of the sanitary
arrangements being made.
The girls' workroom I found to be situated at the highest part of the
building, cut off by a staircase from the rest of the establishment. It was
well lighted and ventilated on the east and west sides. Its cubic capacity
was over and above that required by the Factory and Workshops' Act, viz.
250 cubic feet per adult. A small part of the room was divided off by a glass
partition to form a cutting room.
For the purpose of communication with different parts of the establishment,
four speaking tubes were provided in the workroom; one connected