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26
SMALL-POX.
This disease had been entirely absent in Clerkenwell for ten years,
and also, with a few exceptions, in the parish of St. Luke. But
during 1901 there occurred in Finsbury as many as 88 cases and in
1902 there were 187 cases, making a total of 275 cases in all.
This was part of the general prevalence of small-pox in London, and
compares not unfavourably with many other districts.
There appears to be evidence that the London epidemic of smallpox
in 1901 was derived from infection from the continent,
particularly from Paris. The disease was practically absent from
London in the first five months of the year. But in June several
cases occurred indirectly related to a case returning from Paris, and
single cases followed in various parts of London. From August
22nd and onwards the disease appeared to obtain a hold in certain
dibtricts of Marylebone and St. Pancras, and from that time began
to spread.
According to the instructions of the Local Government Board I
have now to report on the whole epidemic as it affected this
Borough. That part of the epidemic which occurred in 1901 has
already been reported upon (See Report on the Public Health of
Finsbury, 1901, pp. 28-56) and it will only be necessary here to
summarize the main facts. The particulars respecting each case
throughout the epidemic will be found as an appendix to the present
report.
It will be necessary here to deal with several particulars respecting
the outbreak, as it affected Finsbury. It is proposed to treat of the
matter as briefly as possible under headings of Channels of Infection,
Age and Sex Incidence, Vaccination, Mortality, and Preventive
Methods:—
1. Channels of Infection.—In almost all cases the
disease appears to have been spread by contact with previous cases
or with infected materials or places. In more than one instance
this has led to groups of cases. The record is as follows :—
No. 1 was occupied as a printer in the Strand. He belonged to the