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asked to give my opinion respecting one of the patients whose illness simulated
enteric fever. I took a sample of the patient's blood and the Widal re-action
was negative.
On making further inquiries respecting the outbreak, which began on the
21st October, 1906, I found that of 36 children who were then in the home 19
had had well marked symptoms, and the majority of the remaining 17 had not
been really well although they had had no treatment for any particular symptoms.
Of the staff of five, the Matron was the only one who had well marked symptoms.
Two of the patients were removed to the Infirmary supposed to be suffering
from measles; one of them, however, on admission to the Infirmary was thought
to be suffering from scarlet fever, and was so notified and removed to one of the
hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. He was returned at the end of a
month as not suffering from scarlet fever.
The origin of the outbreak was the admission of 18 children to the home,
on the 17th October, from the Holborn Workhouse, Shepherdess Walk. From
inquiries that I made at this Workhouse, I found that amongst the children that
were sent out there had been eases of illness similar to those occurring at the
home.
I read a paper on this outbreak at the Epidemiological Society (15th March,
1907), giving details of the illness of the twenty patients, and comparing them
with similar outbreaks of influenza or illnesses resembling influenza. I also
quoted various authorities respecting the various rashes that had been described
as being present at such outbreaks, and on the pathology and bacteriology of
such outbreaks, which indicated that this probably was really influenza.
ALCOHOLISM.
Only 22 deaths were assigned to alcoholism or cirrhosis of liver, 13 in St.
Giles and Bloomsbury, and 9 in the Holborn District. These represent only a
small proportion of the deaths really caused by alcoholism, as they are frequently
registered under the headings of other secondary causes.
CANCER.
Forty-nine deaths were registered as due to cancer or malignant disease, 30
belonging to St. Giles and Bloomsbury, and 19 to the Holborn District.
Further details as to the causes of and ages at death are given in Table IV.
of the Appendix.