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(g). Sending lists of infected houses to all schools, libraries,
public wash-houses, etc.; the preventing of infected
clothes going to the public wash-houses ; and the collecting
and destroying of all Library books found in infected
houses (36 books dealt with).
The lessons to be learnt from the epidemic in regard to Lambeth
are, from the vaccination point of view, the same pro raid
as those to be learnt from the epidemic throughout London as a
whole. An unbiassed mind must admit that vaccination and revaccination
recently and efficiently performed are absolute preventatives
against an attack of Smallpox, and that vaccination and
re-vaccination (even though performed many years back) tend to
modify and render harmless the disease, which, in the case of
persons unprotected by such means, generally runs a most loathsome
and serious course. It is only too apparent that, despite
the large amount of vaccination and re-vaccination that have taken
place in Lambeth and elsewhere during the epidemic, the
epidemic has had to be combatted by other means, which may be
tabulated as—
(1) Exact notification.
(2) Prompt isolation.
(3) Efficient disinfection.
(4) Careful quarantine and medical inspection of all
" contacts " or " suspects."
Vaccination and re-vaccination have, unfortunately, not been
able to play the part that one could have wished, owing to the
pronounced apathy amongst the people in that respect. It is to
be feared that Lambeth, and other places, will have to depend
upon means of prevention other than vaccination in battling with
a Smallpox outbreak in future.
Conclusion.
Whilst, as your Medical Officer and as head of the Sanitary Department,
I am responsible for the measures that have been
taken in dealing with the Smallpox epidemic, I feel that special
mention should be made of the loyal support that I have received
at all times from the Sanitary Staff, individually and collectively.
The inspectors, the disinfecting men, and the sanitary clerks have
worked splendidly, and to them is due the credit of having
stamped out the Smallpox epidemic in Lambeth Borough, which,
though the second largest Metropolitan District, will be found to
have suffered pro rata less than any other.
My thanks are due to (1) the Metropolitan Asylums Board,
whose officers have promptly removed and treated all Lambeth
Smallpox patients notified to them; (2) the Lambeth Guardians,