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26
In South Paddington 11 cases were recorded in
1897, 7 below the annual average, and the smallest total
recorded since the date of notification. The highest
number for any year has been 23, recorded in 1890,
and the lowest (prior to 1897) 13, recorded in 1893.
In North Paddington four cases in four houses
were reported from Shirland Road, and two in two
houses (one a nursing home) from Clifton Gardens.
The remaining 28 cases were reported from as
many streets and houses. In South Paddington
three cases were reported among the Nursing Staff
of St. Mary's Hospital, and two (taken ill on the
same day) in a house in Edgware Road. The other
six cases occurred singly in streets and houses. In no
house or family was there a secondary attack—the
three cases in St. Mary's Hospital having independent
origins.
The origin of infection in sporadic cases of enteric
fever is a matter of speculation rather than of
knowledge. Of the 45 cases recorded during the
year, three appeared to have been due to the
patients nursing other cases, and two to eating oysters
(origin unknown). In two cases there were histories
of consumption of ice cream and mussels, but the information
was too unreliable to be accepted without
reservation.
Of the 45 cases, 23 were removed to hospital,
equal to 51.1 per cent., as compared with 51.6 per
cent. in 1896, 37.1 in 1895, and 43.8 in 1894. Of