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39
latter disease. The notification is dual, viz.: a notice by the
head of the family (or other responsible person), and a certificate
by the medical attendant; and the penalty for non-compliance is
a fine not exceeding forty shillings.
This Order was extended on April 22nd, 1902, for a further
period of 6 months from May 7th, 1902; and again on October
21st, 1902, for a further period of two months from November
7th, 1902, after which period the compulsory notification of
Chickenpox was discontinued. During this period (February
7th, 1902, to January 6th, 1903), there have been notified within
the Borough of Lambeth 995 cases as follows: —
Ages. J Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. August. Total.
0—1 6 11 10 17 19 7 8 78
1—2 8 16 11 17 18 15 10 95
2—3 6 13 13 14 20 12 11 89
3—4 10 27 13 19 19 14 10 112
4 5 21 26 15 24 35 16 10 147
5—6 20 36 18 29 38 10 13 164
6—7 11 13 11 10 29 15 7 96
7—8 5 10 8 9 18 5 5 60
8—9 2527424 26
9—10 436365 — 27
10—11 15— 2221 13
11—12 232343 — 17
12 and
over 17 4 7 15 11 12 5 71
Totals 113 172 116 169 223 118 84 995*
All the 939 Chickenpox-infected houses, in which the 995
cases occurred, were visited, and the usual precautions as to isolation,
disinfection, etc., carried out, whilst, as Chickenpox is a rare
disease in adult life, and may be at that age-period more readily
mistaken for modified Smallpox, the 71 cases notified amongst
adults (12 years and over) were the subject of special investigation
and examination by the Medical Officer. Four cases notified as
Chickenpox proved, on examination, to be Smallpox, but these
cases would have been heard of without the compulsory notification
of the disease on account of the system of voluntary notification
of all doubtful or suspicious cases of " spots," which was inaugurated
in Lambeth Borough at the commencement of the
epidemic. In the late epidemic (as far as Lambeth Borough is
concerned) the compulsory notification of Chickenpox has proved
practically useless, as well as being, in the opinion of your Medical
Officer of Health, a needless expense, under the special circumstances
mentioned.
From September 1st, 1902, to January 6th, 1903, 605 more cases of
Chickenpox were notified, and of these 33 were amongst persons
12 years of age and over.
Q 2