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No difficulty was experienced in Bermondsey obtaining the names and addresses of contacts,
nor have I reason to think that any cases of small-pox were wilfully concealed with the possible
exception of the two mentioned above.
As a rule when the name of a workplace outside the Borough was given by a contact the
firm was not directly communicated with. This was generally done through the Sanitary
Authority of the Borough in which the workplace was situated.
Closure of Schools.
During the end of 1901, it was found necessary to close two schools, viz., East Lane Board
School, and the Catholic Schools, Dockhead. This action, the reasons of which are given more
in detail in my Annual Report, was because so many of the early cases were children connected
with these schools, the prevalence of the disease in the immediate neighbourhood, and the
necessity of cleansing and disinfecting the schools.
In reference to this action I have heard the opinions expressed, that it was more likely to
spread than check the disease, because the only healthy time these children had during the day
was the five or six hours spent at school. As regards the first of these views, the result amply
justifies the action, for the violence of the epidemic, especially as regards children, ceased
immediately after the closing. It is well known to medical men, school teachers and others, who
know much about schools, that very close intercourse takes place between little children. They
are boxed up together in one room and are constantly licking each other's slates, sucking slate
pencils belonging to each other, exchanging sweets, kissing, etc. These things tend to spread
infectious disease very rapidly, especially diphtheria, scarlet fever and small-pox. Further, there
is no doubt that children are much less liable to give or take infectious disease when playing
about in the open air. They are not, while there, engaged with slates, pencils, and many other
objects which make suitable media of infection. In other words the intercourse is not nearly so
close. No matter how well a school room is ventilated, it cannot be so well ventilated as the
open air, or be such a suitable place for the rapid dilution, and thus rendering innocuous
of the virus of an infectious disease.
Quarantine and Shelters.
At the beginning of the epidemic and up to about the end of 1901, when we thought that the
epidemic might be checked, an endeavour was made to quarantine families, and in the following
list will be found the number received into the Shelter and the length of their stay:-
Table VII. —Small-pox.
Time in Shelter.
Number of Families.
Time in Shelter.
Number of Families.
28 days
1 family.
8 days
1 family.
16 „
4 families.
7 „
1 „
15 „
4 „
6 „
4 families.
14 „ ... ...
10 „
5 „
1 family.
13 „
4 „
3 „
6 families.
12 „
1 family.
2 „
4 „
11 „
3 families
1 „
4 „
10 „
1 family.
-
-
9 „
1 „
482 days.
50 families.
Average per family 9.64 days.
The stay of some appears much longer than 14 days, and this is because fresh cases cropped
up in the families while resident there. We, however, had to stop quarantine as a general
measure since we found ourselves liable to be surcharged, and this measure was afterwards only
adopted as a special one in certain cases. Concurrently with quarantine in 1901, compensation
was given for loss of work. This, for the same reason, was given up, except in special cases
recommended by the Medical Officer of Health. I think quarantine is useful for contacts if they
handle textile fabrics of any sort, or food stuffs which are not sterilised by cooking after the last
handling by cooking before being used. It is best to judge each case on its own merit, as cases
are sure to turn up to which no general rule will apply. From October, 1901, to July 31st,
1902, the following are the expenses in connection with compensation for loss of work and
in the Shelter:—
Compensation (loss of work). Expenses of Shelter.
1901 £73 1 8 £36 18 11
1902 16 6 0 20 7 10½
Total £89 7 8 £57 6 9½
Judging from the previous visitations of small-pox in London there is likely to be some
recrudescence of the disease in the winter and spring, in which, no doubt, Bermondsey will
share; but I do not anticipate that the disease will get the upper hand. By a steady adoption
of the measures which have already proved successful there need be no alarm.