View report page

110
other 2 patients (Philip Jones and Kate Hemmings) were inmates
of the Receiving Ward and Infirmary respectively; whilst Walter
Button (removed on May 18th) was also an inmate of the
Infirmary. It was clear that, during that time, the Infirmary,
Receiving Ward, and C South Block were Diphtheria-infected.
No further cases of Diphtheria were notified until May 29th, when
Francis Clarke and Jane Sutton (from C South and the Infirmary
respectively) were removed to the Metropolitan Asylums Board
Hospital, making a total of 10 Diphtheria patients removed
during May.
In view of the fact that, of these 10 cases, 6 were connected
with C South Block, systematic, periodical, both clinical and
bacteriological examinations were made of the throats and noses
of all the inmates of that particular Block (children and
attendants), with the result that 24 more children and 1 attendant
were finally "weeded" out therefrom as suffering from
Diphtheria (actual or potential) as follows:—June 6th, 2;
June 9th, 2; June 13th, 3; June 15th, 2; June 16th, 7; June
17th, 6; June 21st, 1; June 24th, 1; June 30th, 1; total, 25.
At the commencement of the outbreak (May 16th), there were
66 children living and sleeping in C South Block, and of these,
30 (17 from the lower, and 13 from the upper dormitory) were
eventually removed to the Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospital,
potentially or actually suffering from Diphtheria (complicated in
2 instances with ulcerative Stomatitis or Vincent's Angina), as
shewn by the fact that Klebs-Lœffler bacilli and Vincent's organisms
were found in their noses or throats (or both), on bacteriological
examination. 9 other children in C South Block shewed, on
examination, Hoffman pseudo-diphtheria bacilli in their throats
or noses ; whilst 1 child (Joseph J. Tipper), aged 4 years, occupying
a bed in the lower dormitory, shewed in his throat modified
("involuted" as it is called) Klebs-Lceffler and pseudodiphtheria
bacilli, together with a few doubtful Vincent's
organisms, pointing to a recent attack (3 or 4 weeks ago) of
Diphtheria, complicated with Ulcerative Stomatitis or Vincent's
Angina. (Vide Tables II. and III).
How the Disease spread into the Main Buildings.
Joseph J. Tipper was an important clue, and into his history
and recent movements strict enquiry was made. It was found
that he had never been out to the Board Schools, and that he had
not been visited since February 6th, 1905, when his mother