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94
these cases, and the necessary bacteriological examination can then
be made with safety to the patient.
While it is best to prepare for emergencies, I do not consider
that there is reason to apprehend the spread of the disease to the
Metropolis. The action of the London County Council in making
the disease notifiable for a period of six months is a wise precaution,
and should the necessity arise, will strengthen the hands of the
Council in dealing with any outbreak that may occur in their
district.
In the absence of evidence of the existence of the disease in the
Borough at the present time, I have not considered it necessary to
to draw up a leaflet for distribution to the public. If the disease
should make its appearance in Battersea, I will ask the Committee's
authoritv to issue the usual notice to the inhabitants as to
the nature of the disease, prominent symptoms, and precautions to
be adopted to prevent the spread of infection.
G. QUIN LENNANE.
Since the disease was made notifiable 10 cases were
notified, but in only 3 of these did the bacteriological results
1
show evidence of the presence of the meningococcus, or
specific organism which is associated with the clinical manifestation
of the disease.
These 3 cases are as follows :—
Case 1.—E. F., age 6, female, residing at 30 Roundell
Street, was notified on the 9th May from St. Thomas'
Hospital. The child had been ill for a month previous to
being sent to hospital. The medical attendant stated the
illness began with an attack of ulcerative tonsillitis, which
lasted four or five days; pneumonia supervened, and on the
third day of the appearance of the latter, retraction of the
head set in. There was a history of a fall on the back of the
head. Patient was removed to hospital on the 1st May.
The Hospital report was as follows:—
"Lumbar puncture has been performed on two or three
occasions. The (cerebro-spinal) fluid is turbid and contains
numerous leucocytes of the polymorphorm clear type. Many