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42
All the cases of duplicate notifications were carefully
investigated. In a number of instances, after consulting
a private medical man and obtaining from him
an expression of opinion as to the disease (Scarlet
Fever or Diphtheria) from which the sick child was
suffering, parents had taken their children to the
London Hospital without proper precautions, contrary
to Section 68 of the Public Health (London) Act 1891,
but in two cases only did the Public Health Committee
authorize a prosecution. Particulars of these are as
follows:—
L.F., aged five years, residing at a milk shop in Mount Street,
was taken to Dr. O'Malley on April 11th; the mother was told by
him to take the child home and put it to bed as it had Scarlet
Fever. She did so, but the father took the child the same afternoon
to the London Hospital, where it was detained and sent by ambulance
to Homerton Fever Hospital. The two notification certificates
(private and hospital) were received next morning, April 12th.
Inspector Henley called about 1.30 o'clock and found the sale of
milk still in progress, although the premises had not been disinfected.
The case was reported to the Public Health Ccmmittee
and a summons was ordered. At the hearing, Dr. O'Malley gave
evidence as to the facts, but the father of the child swore that he
was not aware that it had Scarlet Fever when he took it to the
hospital. He said his wife told him that Dr. O'Malley said
the child had only a little fever and the wife confirmed the statement.
The Magistrate disbelieved both husband and wife, but as
we were unable to prove to his satisfaction that the father had been
told by his wife the exact nature of his child's illness, he dismissed
the summons.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of Sunday, October 1st, Dr.
Corner was called to visit I.L., aged seven years at No. 8, Fellbrigg
Street. This is a general shop where milk is sold. Dr.
Corner informed the father that his child was suffering from Scarlet
Fever and directed that the patient should be kept isolated until it
could be removed to the hospital; the notification certificate was
forwarded by post in the usual way and was received by me the
following morning together with a duplicate certificate from Dr.
Cook of the London Hospital. Inspector Bare then ascertained