View report page

30
a centre of infection for fresh cases. So it proved to be, and
from or near Thomas Street we have removed some twenty cases.
Every house in the street was visited and vaccination advised.
The small-pox limited itself to the houses and persons declining
vaccination.
Nos. 16, 20, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32, 46, 47, 49, 62, 64 and 65, contracted
the small-pox in or near Thomas Street, and were therefore
indirect infections from the hop-picker group.
Nos. 4, 23 and 27 refer to three disinfectors in the employ of the
Borough Council, who contracted the disease in the discharge of
their duties in infected houses. It is interesting to note that when
the small-pox commenced in September I advised the whole of the
staff in the Public Health Department to be re-vaccinated. The
inspectors and clerks (10) at once complied. The disinfectors (5)
declined, and three of them contracted the small-pox. It should be
added that the inspectors have, without exception, been engaged upon
room disinfection in a way precisely similar to the disinfectors, and
therefore open to the same risks, and in the removal of patients
have frequently come into contact with the disease, and yet none
of them have, up to the present, contracted the disease.
Second Group—This group commenced with No. 35, who believes
that she contracted the disease from an infected house in Vineyard
Walk at the end of September or the beginning of October. In about
a fortnight's time spots appeared upon her, and she was ill with what
was sonsidered to be " chicken-pox." She was nursed at home, and her
brother (No. 36) and her little sister (No. 37) contracted the disease
from her. Then followed another sister (No. 38). All these lived
in one house in Douglas Place. But a married sister living in Pine
Street, who visited the house, contracted it next (No. 39), and she
had a severe attack. These five cases were being nursed at home as
"chicken-pox," and continuing with their avocations as much as
possible. I learned of their condition by being called on November
5th to see No. 33, who was a deaf and dumb man, a friend of theirs.
I found him to be suffering from "small-pox" although he considered
it " chicken-pox." On enquiry I discovered that he contracted it from
his friends in Douglas Place. I at once visited them, and found the