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7
Probable origin.
Initials of
case, age
and sex.
Address.
Dates of
Rash.
Removal to
hospital.
Remarks.
VI.—Untraced
(see context
below)
VII.—Untraced
J.G. (19 m.)
J.H. (? age,
m.)
0.0. (? age,
m.)
J.M. (40 m.)
W.H.J. (23
m.)
Sailor's Home,
Dock-street
Seamen's Hospital
Greenwich
Seamen's Hospital,
Greenwich
46, Hyde-vale,
(Seamen's Hosp.)
61, Goldhurst-terracc,
Hampstead
19th April
? 3rd
April
?
2nd May
? 28 th
Dec.
19thApril,
Seamen's
Hosp.,
21st April
S. Wharf
21st April
21st April
2nd May
30th Dec.
Patient had been an inmate of the
venereal ward at Seamen's Hospital
from 25th Mar. to 15th April. Returned
to the hospital feeling unwell
on 19th April. Rash came out
that evening.
This man had practically recovered
when seen by Dr. Wanklyn on 21st
April. He then had definite traces of
smallpox on soles of feet. A.L.
(Group IV. above) was removed
from the hospital on the 17th Mar.
suffering from smallpox (see context ).
This man slept in next bed to J.H., and
was infected by him. When seen by
Dr. Wanklyn on 21st April he was in
advanced stage of hajmorrhagic smallpox
and died the following day at
South Wharf.
Dresser in the ward from which the
three previous cases were removed
Re-vaccinated 22nd April, very mild
attack.
Patient was on a visit for Christmas.
Worked at Chelmsford for War Office.
Seen by Dr. Wanklyn.
This series of cases provides a striking example of the risks, which are constantly arising, of the
introduction of smallpox into London through the importation of infected persons or material from
abroad. As regards the groups of cases which occurred in February, March, and April, the origin of
infection may be attributed directly or indirectly to association with ships or the riverside docks. The
outbreak in Poplar (Group II.) which commenced in February was definitely traced to the handling of
soiled linen coming from the military stores on board the S.S. Devanha on which cases of smallpox had
occurred. This material was stored at Bell Wharf, Poplar, and a woman who had been engaged in sorting
it contracted smallpox and died. Five secondary cases resulted, one of which was the driver of the
disinfecting van ; three occurred in the same family or house as the original pat'ent; and the fifth
was a workfellow of the deceased and was also employed in handling the military stores referred to.
No connection could be traced between these cases and the outbreak which occurred at 73, East Ferryroad
(Group III.). In this group the first patient was a marine storekeeper and his employment involved
the handling of dirty sacks. Failing the discovery of any other source of infection it would be reasonable
to ascribe this case to the nature of the man's employment. On the other hand, in view of the
occurrence contemporaneously of the group of cases in the near neighbourhood, connected with the
S.S. Devanha, it is possible that infection may have been directly or indirectly derived from this source.
The East Ferry-road case gave rise to two secondary cases in the same family.
The outbreak on board the S.S. Surf originated in a member of the crew (A.L., aged 52 years)
who left the ship at Plymouth on 16th March. He travelled to Paddington the same day and went to
his home at 69, Christian-street, Stepney, and thence to the Seamen's Hospital (V.U. Department) on
17th March, when he was found to be suffering from smallpox, the rash having appeared about four
days previously. He was at once removed to South Wharf. It was ascertained that the S.S. Surf
was lying off Erith on the 26th February about the time the patient must have been infected, and as a
case of smallpox had occurred in Erith and further cases developed subsequently, it seems likely that
the man may have come into contact when ashore with some, unrecognised case. The vessel was a
tramp collier plying round the coast and no other possible source of infection could be discovered. The
man infected his wife, who developed the rash on 28th March. The S.S. Surf, on leaving Plymouth,
sailed to Barry, and on arrival there another case of smallpox was landed. She left Barry with a clean
bill of health, all the crew except four being vaccinated, and arrived in the Port of London on 30th March,
when one of the four men who refused vaccination was found to be suffering from smallpox. He was
removed to Denton Hospital where he died. On 31st March another of the men who declined vaccination
developed a smallpox rash and was removed the next day.
This outbreak affords a good illustration of the way in which smallpox is conveyed from place
to place by ships' crews and emphasises the importance of close medical supervision at the ports.
To what extent (if at all) this group (IV.) of cases can be linked up with the occurrence of four
cases (Group VI.) in the Seamen's Hospital during the month of April must remain a matter for speculation.
The facts are as follow : On the 19th April a seaman (J.G., aged 19) living at the Sailors' Home,
Dock-street, developed a rash and went to the Seamen's Hospital, where he was found to be suffering
from smallpox and was at once removed to South Wharf. He had arrived in London from Seville on
25th March, and he proceeded on disembarkation to the Seamen's Hospital where he was treated as an
in-patient in the V.D. ward. He was discharged dn the 15th April and he lived at the Sailors' Home
until his return to the hospital on the 19th April as stated. As the man must have been in the hospital
on the day he contracted the disease Dr. Wanklyn visited the hospital with a view to ascertaining the