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39
With respect to the sources of infection of these cases of
enteric fever, I may say in the first place, that four cases I am of
opinion may be traced to infection in places outside of the Borough
whilst on a visit. The particulars of these cases are as follows:—
1. E. B. Age 32. M. Returned from Margate on August
12th, having been there two weeks on a visit. He began
to feel ill two or three days after his return from Margate.
This case was notified on the 26th September.
2. W. M. Age.9. M. Returned from Holly Bourne, Hampshire,
on August 27th, where he had been staying a month
on a visit. He first fell ill on September 1st. The case
was notified September 2nd.
3. A. F. R. Age 4. M. Returned from Ramsgate on September
3rd, where he had been on a visit for three weeks.
He began to feel ill on September 1st. This case was
notified on September 18th.
4. I. S. Age 50. M. This patient was a visitor at Westcliffe
for four days from the 25th July. He first fell ill on
August 22nd and was notified on the 31st August.
Besides the above cases, there were two groups of cases which
occurred in the Borough during last autumn. Apart from the first
case occurring in each group, these cases, in my opinion, were due
entirely to personal infection, or, as it is sometimes called, contact
infection.
Group I.—This is a series of five cases occurring in succession
in a family of ten persons, consisting of father, mother and eight
children. The father is a labourer, but his wife attended to the
family at home, supplementing the family income by taking in
washing for one family. The housing accommodation consisted of
three rooms, viz., a kitchen and two bedrooms.
The first case of enteric fever to occur in the family was
Mrs. C. E.H., the mother, and she attributed her illness to washing