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17
infectious condition, are taken through the public streets
for treatment as hospital out-patients. It is impossible
to estimate how many people thus become infected in
cars, omnibuses and waiting rooms; but I feel sure that
many mysterious outbreaks of disease are attributable
to some such source. Possibly some parents err in
ignorance, but I am afraid that many are so selfish as
to be utterly careless of the danger to which they
expose their temporary neighbours. It occasionally
happens that parents who call in a private medical
practitioner to a child sick with some infectious complaint,
are dissatisfied with the doctor's opinion, which, if
correct, would necessitate the patient's removal. In these
circumstances it is not an uncommon thing for the
child to be taken to one of the general hospitals for
confirmation of diagnosis or otherwise.
The following communication from a medical
practitioner in the district refers to an equally reprehensible
practice:—
22nd September, 1904.
Dear Dr. Bate,
In forwarding a notification for E. H., of 118, Royston Street,
I would like to draw your attention to a procedure on the part of
parents of which I have had one or two other instances. A child is
brought to the surgery and diphtheria is diagnosed, the parents
will not at once agree to removal and the notification is withheld
for a day, or overnight, till they should make up their minds.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent the ambulance being brought to
their door, they take the child to the London Hospital. The
authorities there telephone for the ambulance and the case is
removed without the "neighbours" seeing it. This course involves
the exposure of a child (in E. H's case for three hours) in a public
place, to her own great risk and the danger of infecting others.
Yours truly,
b