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70
him while travelling around. in an endeavour to trace
the source of infection in one case, the patient stated
that one day about two or three weeks previously he
remembered sitting next to a man in a bus who had a
large number of pimples on his face which made him
say to himself, "If I had a face like that I would see
a doctor about it." if matters ended with the original
"missed" case it would not be so bad, but we must also
consider the possibility and probability of other "missed"'
cases arising from the original one.
When we add to these factors the knowledge that
in Bethnal Green there is considerable overcrowding,
the wonder is not that we have so many cases of Smallpox,
but that we do not have a much greater number.
The outbreak has necessarily increased to a very
considerable extent the work of the Public Health
Department. The clerical staff have cheerfully borne
the extra work involved while the disinfecting staff have
carried out their duties ungrudgingly often up to late
hours. The unflagging interest, devotion and energy
displayed by the Sanitary inspectors in following up
contacts, not only during the day but also at nights and
on Sundays, is to be highly commended for, undoubtedly,
whatever degree of success we may have attained in
keeping the " outbreak " under " control " is in a large
measure due to their efforts.