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48
Small-Pox.
Three cases of small-pox occurred in Battersea during 1931
compared with 7 in 1930.
The three patients attacked were of one family-the mother
and two sons, aged 4 years and 16 years respectively.
The original case was that of the child of four years. This
child had not been vaccinated. The rash appeared on November
28th and the patient was removed to hospital on December 2nd.
The other members of the family were vaccinated on December 3rd,
but in the case of the mother vaccination was not successful, and
was performed again 8 days later with a successful result. In
spite of this, however, both the mother and the son aged 16 years
developed small-pox. Unless vaccination is performed within
four days from the time of infection it is unlikely to protect from
an attack of small-pox, although the disease may be considerably
modified thereby, as happened in these two patients.
In each case the attack was of the prevailing mild character
known as variola minor.
All the cases were removed to the isolation hospital, the average
duration of isolation being 11 days. In the case of the patient
aged 16 years the duration of isolation in hospital was only 5 days,
as the attack was of such a mild nature due to his recent vaccination.
During the year there were 1,452 cases of this disease recorded
in London, 5 of these cases occurring in the neighbouring borough
of Wandsworth and 256 in Lambeth. 101 cases occurred in Stepney,
144 in Bethnal Green, 122 in Shoreditch, 352 in Poplar and 116 in
Camberwell. The disease was also prevalent in Greater London,
West Ham having 761 cases.
It is satisfactory to note that notwithstanding the prevalence
of the disease in adjoining boroughs and other London districts,
Battersea was comparatively free.
252 "contacts" with cases of small-pox occurring in other
districts were reported to the Medical Officer of Health, and were
visited daily for 19 days. This involved much extra work for the
Sanitary Inspectorial Staff.
In England and Wales, 5,665 cases of small-pox were notified
during 1931.
No vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of
Health during the year under report.
Scarlet Fever.
The incidence of Scarlet Fever was lower in 1931, 448 cases
being notified as compared with 566 in the previous year.