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34
disease. The records are not sufficiently regular or explicit to allow
a table to be drawn up to compare the decennial periods. In 1871
I find there were 740 cases in the Holborn Union, and in 1872, 923
cases. It will be remembered that this was an epidemic period.
Then the disease declined. In 1877 and 1878 it again increased,
and in 1881, 1883, 1884, and 1885, it was again prevalent. Since
1886 there has not been any extensive outbreak until the present
time. The returns since notification became compulsory are as
follows.—
Clerkenwell. St. Luke. Total. Deaths.
1890 2 — 2 —
1891 — — — —
1892 4 8 12 4
1893 18 14 32 1
1894 5 13 18 1
1895 11 2 13 —
1896 5 — 5 —
1897 - - - -
1898 — — — —
1899 — — — —
1900 — — — —
1901 77 11 88 8
1902 55 132 187 32
Total 177 180 357 46
In reference to the channels of infection, an examination of
even the brief record stated above can lead to but one conclusion.
It is, of course, that almost all of the cases have been derived by
contact from previous cases. Food (including milk), contaminated
water, defective drainage, and other sources to which epidemic
disease is at times traceable have played apparently no part in the
present outbreak. Attention has rather been directed to places
where persons or things may have come into contact with recognised