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These four cases occurred in one house in the Borough, the first
case having apparently contracted the infection during her journey
from Blackheath to Paddington early one morning as she was
proceeding into Oxfordshire for a few days' holiday. It was
subsequently discovered that an unrecognised case of small-pox
was travelling about the West End of London at about this period
and it is presumed that they came into contact in some way. The
remaining three cases were other occupants of the same house who
persistently refused vaccination or re-vaccination until it was too
late to prevent an attack of the disease although in two of the cases
the late vaccination did materially affect the character of the disease.
In the other case, which was not vaccinated at all, the illness was of
a much more serious character. In due course the four patients
made a good recovery with no further spread of the disease from
the one house originally affected.
The Council's Isolation Shelter was used for a period by some
of the occupants of the premises whilst they were under observation
and their rooms were cleansed and bedding etc. disinfected.
Contacts.—Two intimations were received from overseas by
Medical Officers of Health of the Port Sanitary Authorities respecting
persons who had been in contact with Small-Pox. In every instance
they were kept under observation.
Details respecting vaccination in the Borough are given in the
Supplemental Vaccination Reports on page 41.
Diphtheria.—Two hundred and seventeen cases of Diphtheria
were notified during the year, as compared with 275, 391, 595 and
707 respectively in the years 1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922. The distribution
of these cases was as follows :—96 in East Greenwich,
62 in West Greenwich, 19 in St. Nicholas, 30 in Charlton and 10 in
Kidbrooke.
Of this total number, 211 were removed to the Hospital for
treatment, amongst which number the Hospital Authorities reported
that in 12 cases they considered the diagnosis incorrect.
There were 11 fatalities due to this disease, which gives a case
mortality of 5.0 per cent.
One thousand five hundred and thirty eight specimens were
forwarded by medical practitioners for bacteriological investigation
from cases suspected to be diphtheria. Of this number 1,433 were
reported to give negative or doubtful results, and 105 were positive
in character, being dealt with accordingly.