View report page

In some 27 cases the sufferers were infected in other districts,
and, arising out of these, there were a number of secondary cases.
In some 48 cases the source of infection could not be traced, but
several of these were imported cases. All of the common lodginghouse
cases were imported.
Preventive Measures.—In the first rank of measures for the
prevention of spread of disease comes —
Isolation, which was secured in nearly every case by the removal
of the patient to hospital. The removal was effected in 73 cases by
medical practitioners, on their own applications and certificates, under
the unique system which has been in operation in Kensington since
1887- the Sanitary Authority paying a small fee for the service. In
28 cases the patients were removed by the department, usually upon
the notification certificate. Five cases were not removed to hospital:
viz., a public-house manager, whose illness had been diagnosed as
chicken-pox (case 8, No. 1 Report, page 4); an omnibus proprietor,
whose case (45, No. 3 Report, page 58) was reported after death; a
gentleman (case 12, No. 1 Report, page 5); a woman (case 53,
No. 4 Report, page 85), the nature of whose illness was not recognized;
and a child, well isolated, and scarcely at all ill (case 37, No. 3
Report, page 58).
Ambulance Service. —The patients were removed in every case in
the ambulances of the Asylums Board with a promptitude altogether
commendable —many of them at night.
Hospital Service. —The accommodation from the first was ample.
In August, 1901, there were some 1,442 beds available, or that could
have been made available, viz., 250 at the ships, and 1,192 at the Gore
Farm Hospitals, the accommodation at which was largely extended
(raising the aggregate to about 1,850 beds) before the close of the
epidemic. A temporary hospital for 300 patients was erected at
Long Reach, and this is the only one now in use. Another temporary
structure, the Orchard Hospital, at Joyce Green, with accommodation
for 800 beds was rapidly constructed, but, fortunately, was not found
necessary. [The permanent hospital at this site, intended for the
reception of 940 patients, is approaching completion.] The accommodation
at the several hospitals aggregated about 3,200 beds; whilst
the patients at any one time scarcely exceeded half that number.
Disinfection. —Upon the removal of a patient the Council's staff
disinfected the sick room or rooms without loss of time, and the
contractors removed the bedding.* This was frequently done
*One of the contractors' employes became infected, having delayed to follow
advice to get revaccinated. (Sec No. 14 Report, 1901, page 198.)