London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Bethnal Green 1902

Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics of the Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green during the year 1902

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96, Antill Road. The patient was the identical Irregular Medical
Practitioner to whose ignorance and presumption the whole outbreak
is due. I advised Dr. Davies how to get his patient removed, but discovered
the following morning that 96, Antill Road, is in Poplar, just
outside Bethnal Green. I have since heard that Lewis died in hospital.
I note from the L.C.C. daily return that F. M., a draper's
assistant, aged 18 years, employed by Mr. Herbert Thomas, of
134, Long Lane, Southwark, sickened on January 2nd, and was removed
to the Small Pox Hospital on January 6th; he visited his sister
at 35, Roman Road, on December 22nd, and dined with the family.
Dr. Thomas, in his letter of January 7th, gave me the address of
Miss M.'s elder brother, who is employed in the goods department
at St. Pancras Station, and who had an interview with Mr. E., the
employer of Miss M., and also with the unqualified " Doctor " who
advised her removal to Wales. I wrote to Mr. M., and also directed
Inspector Richards to call upon him for the purpose of obtaining
such information as was possible. I append Mr. Richards's
report: —
By direction of Dr. Bate, I went to see William M., of 49, Fairbridge Road,
Upper Holloway, on 10th January, 1902, in respect of his sister. M. said he
heard first that his sister was ill on Wednesday or Thursday, December
18th or 19th, by letter from Long Lane, Borough. He went to see his sister
on Thursday, December 19th, at 35, Roman Road. Whilst he was there
"Dr." Lewis was sent for; he informed Mr. M. that his sister was very ill, her
lungs being diseased, and advised that she should be sent to the country.
The people at 35, Roman Road thought that Miss M. could travel to Wales
on Saturday night, December 21st, as there was an excursion, but William
M. demurred, he thought that as his sister was ill, it would be better that
she should travel by day, and suggested Monday, which was agreed to. He
quite thought that Lewis was a doctor, and that in removing his sister to
Wales he was acting on the advice of a properly qualified medical man.
William M, called on December 23rd at about 9 o'clock a.m. for his sister;
they took an omnibus to Bishopsgate and train to Paddington and travelled
by G.W.R. to Wales.
After William M. had given me the above information, I noticed a rash on his
face, and asked him to shew me his arms, and I saw a rash there. He told
me he had been feeling unwell and had been sent home from work that day.
I asked him if he had seen a doctor, he replied " No," but intended going to
see one that night. Being satisfied in my own mind that the man was
suffering from small pox, I told him it would be better for me to go for a
doctor, and advised him not to leave the room in which this conversation
occurred (front parlor). I went to get a medical man, and brought Dr.