Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the epidemic of smallpox 1901-2 in the Borough of Lambeth
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and in this connection 65 cases have arisen from patients
suffering from Smallpox but diagnosed as suffering from
other diseases, e.g., Chickenpox and Influenza.
5. The part that tramps or vagrants play in disseminating the
disease, not only from one part of a district to another, or
from one workhouse to another, but also from one town to
another, is well known, and of the 404 cases in Lambeth, 9
were tramps who introduced the disease. The Lambeth
Workhouses have been exceptionally free, on account of
the adoption of the Borough Council's Medical Officer's
suggestions, and the untiring energy displayed by the
Guardians' own Medical Superintendent (Dr. Quarry) in
practically carrying out such suggestions. On 8 separate
occasions a Workhouse or Infirmary was infected, but in
no single instance did the disease spread, on account of
strict isolation by removal to Hospital, disinfection, and
medical inspection (together with re-vaccination of " contacts.")
The staffs at the Workhouses and Infirmary were
all re-vaccinated as required.
6. In four instances Common Lodging Houses in Lambeth
Borough were infected, and in each case, by prompt isolation
of the patient, followed by the disinfection of the infected
bedroom (or cubicle) and the bedding, etc., the
disease was arrested and its extension prevented. The inspected
common lodging-house was in each case visited
daily for a period of 16 days after removal of the patient
and disinfection, and any case of illness amongst the inmates
at once investigated medically. No closing of a
common lodging-house nor compulsory keeping indoors
of the inmates have been rendered necessary, daily enquiries
on the premises being found to be all sufficient.
The different Workhouses were advised whenever a common
lodging-house became infected. Rowton House, in
Vauxhall, was carefully watched during the outbreak, and
in only 4 instances became infected (in each case the infection
being limited to the notified infected person ). The
usual precautions were also taken in these cases, and in
this connection it may be mentioned that the Manager
courteously assisted at all times the Borough Officials. The
comparative freedom of the Vauxhall Rowton House comppared
with other Rowton Houses in other Boroughs is
cause for congratulation, more especially remembering the
numbers of inmates and the natures of their occupations
taking them all over London.
7. Tenemented blocks were infected on 20 separate occasions,
but in no single instance did the disease spread from the