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91
APPENDIX.
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF HACKNEY.
REPORT ON AN OUTBREAK OF ENTERIC FEVER
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF
SEWAGE-POLLUTED WATERCRESS.
To the Members of the Public Health Committee.
Gentlemen,
During the month of June of this year the incidence of enteric
fever, in the Borough of Hackney, presented very peculiar and
unusual characters. Under ordinary circumstances enteric fever is
at its lowest point during this month, and the seasonal prevalence of
this disease does not usually set in until about the month of August;
but this year the seasonal rise appeared to begin in the month of
June; and, in addition, the cases notified were for some weeks
mostly localised within a circle of one-third mile radius.
These circumstances led me to think that some special agent wa,
responsible for the unusual prevalence of this disease in the Borough
which required special investigation.
I have now to report the result of my investigations.
Incidence of Enteric Fever.—From the beginning of this year
until the second week in June, enteric fever had been very low, the
average number of cases notified per week being only 1.6. During
only one week, that ending 31st January, did the total cases notified
reach the number of six; but from the second week of June the
cases notified during each week were as set out in the following
table:—