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17
Metropolitan Asylums Board.
Embankment, E.C.
22nd July, 1903.
Sir,
Removal of Uncertified Persons in Company with Certified
Small-Pox Cases.
The Medical Officer of the River Ambulance Service of this Board has
drawn attention to the fact that it occasionally happens that the healthy
mother of a suckling infant, who is certified to be suffering from small-pox, is
removed with the infant to South Wharf, and vice versâ. The admission to
the Wharf of healthy persons in such circumstances is not unattended with
danger of infection to the persons themselves, and is certainly the cause of
considerable inconvenience to the River Ambulance Service. For it is the
practice at once to wean the infants, and whether it is the infant or the mother
who is uninfected at the time, it may be necessary to isolate the uninfected
persons and keep them under observation at the Wharf for ten days or a
fortnight.
Experience has shown that the separation of the infant from the mother,
necessary for the health of each, is welcomed by the mother when the matter
is explained to her, and the babies in such cases are the better for being
weaned.
If possible, however, it is very desirable that the separation of the two
should take place at the home of the patient and not at the Wharf With this
view I am directed by the Ambulance Committee to state that they will be
glad if you will give instructions as will ensure, as far as possible, that the
mother shall be made aware of the practice above referred to, and be
dissuaded either from accompanying her child or taking it with her to
the Wharf, as the case may be.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
T. DUNCOMBE MANN,
Clerk to the Board.
Dr. Bate,
Medical Officer of Health,
Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green.
CHICKEN-POX.
No Deaths.
The order of the London County Council making chicken
pox a notifiable disease, dated January 28th, 1902, was twice