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Typhoid Fever. There were 67 cases of Typhoid Fever
notified ; 34 being in East Greenwich, 14 in West Greenwich, 4
in St. Nicholas, 8 in Charlton, and 7 in Kidbrooke, of which 48
were treated in the Hospital. Amongst these cases there were 8
fatalities, equalling a case mortality of 12 per cent.
Of the total number of cases notified, 17 had, within the
three weeks preceding the attack, partaken of shell-fish, i.e.,
cockles, mussels, &c, and hence the possibility of infection by
this means was realised, leaving 50 cases unattributable to shellfish;
most of the above cases occurring in the months of
September and October.
In connection with one case, the source of the illness was
almost conclusively traced to this source, as the illness was
apparently contracted at Leigh-on-Sea, and on my giving the
Medical Officer of Health of this district particulars as to the case,
he made enquiries, and in a letter to me stated that "there
appears to be little doubt that infection took place through
cockles." In other parts of London and the county generally,
there have been many cases of this ailment traced to infection
from contaminated shell-fish; and there certainly seems to be an
urgent necessity for greater powers of control and supervision
being given to riparian Sanitary Authorities, so that the sites
where these various edible molluscs are deposited for fattening
and other purposes, shall be kept, as far as possible, free from
infection, and, above all things, free from all risk of pollution by
sewage matter. Certain particulars respecting these cases are here
tabulated for future reference and comparison.
There were 18 specimens from suspected Typhoid cases sent
for Bacteriological examination, and the results were positive in
eleven, and negative in the remaining seven cases.
Puerperal Fever. There were 5 cases of this disease
notified, 2 in West Greenwich, and 3 in St. Nicholas, of which
cases 2 received Hospital treatment, while there were two
fatalities.