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34
A somewhat remarkable outbreak was that which occurred
in a street in the Nine Elms Ward, during the late summer and
autumn months. The outbreak began on the 19th August. Between
that date and the 27th October I received the following
notifications:—
Date of Notification. Name. Age. Address. Date of onset of Feve
Aug. 19th. George S. 46 16, L Street 18th July
„ 20th. William E. 28 24, „ ,, 11th August
„ 24th. Kate M. 30 16, „ „ 16th „
„ 24th. Rose M. 8 6, „ „ 16th „
„ 24th. Alice M. 16 16, „ „ 16th ,,
Sept. 23rd. George M. 5 16, „ „ 6th Sept.
„ 27th. Eliza R. 51 39, A Street 27th August
Oct. 7th. Eliza A. 27 13, L Street 24th Sept.
„ 11th. Lena A. 8 13, „ „ 20th „
„ 11th. Ernest A. 34 13, „ „ 29th „
„ 11th. Ernest A. 6 13, „ „ 20th „
„ 11th. Margaret C. 14 13, „ „ 2nd Oct.
„ 19th. Joseph C. 9 13, „ „ 13th „
„ 27th. George A. 38 47, „ „ 18th Sept.
The history of the outbreak was as follows: George S. was
admitted to the Wandsworth Infirmary on the 14th August, suffering
from what was thought ''heat prostration." On the 19th he
was notified as suffering from enteric fever. It was ascertained
on enquiry at his home that he had been in ill-health for some
five or six weeks. He was employed as a coal carman, his occupation
taking him to various coal depots in London, and he had
consequently to have his meals casually, when away from home.
No further information could be obtained as to how he may have
contracted the disease. It is probable, however, that he was the
first person attacked and that he had been suffering from the
disease for some time prior to his admission to the Infirmary. One
of his children was removed on the same day (14th August) to the
Infirmary. The symptoms of this child's illness appear to have
given rise to suspicion, but the bacteriological examination for
Widal's reaction proved negative in her case. The case
appears, therefore, to have been probably one of tuberculosis,
judging from the result of the bacteriological examination.
William E. was notified on the 30th August as suffering from
typhoid. He also was a coal carman, but it is said, did not know
George S. He occupied, with his wife and three children,, the
upper part of No. 24, L—— Street, the lower being occupied
by another family, but no case of illness occurred amongst the
latter. The onset of his illness was said to be the 11th August,
so that he was lying ill at home for about ten days. While lying
ill at home Eliza R., his mother-in-law, who resided at A——
Street, some considerable distance away, helped her daughter to
nurse her husband. She subsequently contracted the disease
(typhoid).