View report page

ij
o
The following return hats been kindly prepared for me by Mr. Edwin Daoey, Clerk to the
Guardians: —

EDWIN DAVEY,
Clerk to the Guardians,
Parish of St. Mary, Islington.
Persons in the Public Health Department Staff Exposed to Infection.—I think it
ought to be known that every member of the Public Health Department Staff had been revaccinated
at the commencement of the epidemic unless he had previously been similarly
protected, and that not one of them contracted the disease. Altogether 42 persons were exposed
to direct infection, and seven to indirect infection. The former included those officials whose
duty it was to visit the houses in which the attacked persons resided, or who disinfected clothing,
and the latter included the clerks in the office who had to interview persons who came from these
houses.
Exposed to Direct Infection. Exposed to In-direct Infection.
No. No.
Medical Officer of Health 1 Clerks 7
Superintendent 1
Sanitary Inspectors 16
Disinfectors 17
Engineers' Disinfecting Station 2
Matrons' Shelter House 2
Van men 2
Messenge 1
Total 42 7
Measures Adopted to Prevent the Spread of Small Pox.—These have already been
fully set out in my Annual Report on the Health and Sanitary Condition of the Borough for
1901, pages 108-110.
Thanks to the Medical Profession.—I cannot close this report without expressing my
heartiest thanks to the medical profession practising in Islington, for the great assistance they
invariably afforded me in my efforts to curtail the epidemic. Their aid has been at times
most valuable, and opportune, while as a rule their notifications have been exceedingly prompt.
Finally I owe it to all the members of the Public Health Department Staff to recognize
the strenuous manner in which they worked. No staff could have done better, indeed the
limits to which the epidemic was confined in the borough, considering that the disease existed
to a severe extent in every borough surrounding it, is proof positive that their efforts were
most successful. They are, therefore, justly entitled to all the praise that I can give them.
They were not only a credit to Islington but an example to the officers of every municipal
authority.
I am,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
A. E. HARRIS,
Medical Officer of Health.