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complained of headache and had marked delirium. On the fourth day she became very
drowsy, with widely dilated pupils and Cheyne-Stokes breathing. Tache cérèbrale was
marked. On the fifth day she became unconscious and remained so until death on
10th August. Kernig's sign was present. There was no eruption. No post-mortem or
bacteriological examination was made in this case, but the symptoms were typical enough
to warrant the diagnosis of this disease.
(7) M.S., 13 years, female, of Perseverance Street, notified on 27th September.
The patient attended East Lane School. She was taken ill on the 20th September
with headache, pains in the stomach, and on the 25th vomiting came on followed by
unconsciousness on the 27th. This patient eventually recovered. There was no eruption.
The characteristic point about all these cases is the sudden onset and the severity of
the symptoms. In none of them was there any history of illness of any other members
of the family or any circumstances which would throw light on the origin of the disease.
No second cases occurred in any of the families, so that one is unable to say whether any
of them were infectious.
Arrangement was made with Dr. Eyre of Guy's Hospital to examine and report on
specimens of cerebro-spinal fluid sent up in doubtful cases.
At the suggestion of the Local Government Board in their circular letter to sanitary
authorities, the precautions usually adopted in cases of infectious disease were taken in this,
viz., isolation, disinfection, exclusion of children from school, and keeping " contacts" under
observation.
Anthrax.
The following is a list of the cases of anthrax in connection with the Borough notified
during 1907: —
Date
Notified.
1907.
Name and
Address of
Patient.
Source of
infection.
Result of
Illness.
Occupation.
Part affected.
Mar. 21st
Left wrist.
Handling dry
hides.
Died.
J. C.,
41, Keeton's
Road
Waterside
labourer at
Morocco Wharf,
Wapping.
Mar. 26th
At Tower Bridge
Wharf.
Left side of neck.
Foreign hides.
Recovered.
R. J.,
6, Katherine
Road, South
Tottenham.
June 7th
Back of neck.
Foreign hides.
Recovered.
W. S.,
40, West Lane.
Labourer at
Tower Bridge
Wharf.
Dec. 20th
Warehouseman
at Pickle Herring
Wharf.
Left side of neck.
Foreign leather.
Recovered.
H. W.,
Boston Street,
Hackney Road.
Infectious Disease.—School Closure.
The following report was made to the Public Health Committee:—
25th June, 1907.
Scarlet Fever, Neckinger School.
I reported at the last meeting of the Committee that between 11th May and
8th June eight cases of scarlet fever had occurred in the infants' department of the
Neckinger School, seven of these being in classroom " D," Since that report four
additional cases have occurred, two being in classroom " D," making a total of nine in this
room. There seems to be no other common source of infection but the classroom these
children attend, so I decided to close it for three weeks from Monday 17th June, the
necessary order being signed by Aldermen Wilkinson and Storey.
Consultations.
I was called in by medical practitioners to assist in the diagnosis of doubtful cases
of infectious disease in 22 instances.
In addition, 15 patients were examined at the request of sanitary inspectors, parents,
school teachers, etc. I also examined five applicants for positions as underground
convenience attendants, one disinfecting carman and one library porter.