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public institution in a neighbouring Borough, where a
number of wrongly diagnosed cases were permitted to
remain and spread disease. I made up my mind that
London was threatened with an epidemic, but fortunately
this was averted by the prompt and energetic
action taken by Dr. Thomas, the Medical Officer of
Health for Stepney. In view of possibilities, the usual
precautions were taken in Bethnal Green by the Public
Health Department; extra disinfectors were engaged
and one of them was put on evening duty; one Sanitary
Inspector in turn was directed to remain at the Town
Hall until late at night and on Sundays; arrangements
were made for the prompt removal of cases immediately
upon receipt of notification, and the Public Health
Committee authorized payment for copy certificates
and messenger fees. Cases reported as chicken-pox
were kept under careful observation, and I visited and
personally examined every case in which the symptoms
were in the slighest degree suspicious. The first true
case of small-pox was a man aged twenty-four who
arrived at the Infirmary on Sunday morning, February
26th and demanded admission. Dr. Potts telephoned
for me; I saw the man and we agreed that he was
suffering from small-pox, so he was at once removed to
hospital. This man was never admitted to the wards
of the Infirmary, but was kept in the receiving room.
I anticipated a crop of cases from this one, as we
ascertained that the man, having no fixed home, had
been wandering about sleeping where he could, sometimes
in common lodging houses and occasionally with
a relative. On the Sunday morning he was found
asleep on some mats in an outhouse at the back of