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24
cumstance is the more noteworthy since at this season of the year
small pox in London is, as a rule, at its lowest ebb." During the
week ended July 6th, 35 cases of small pox were admitted into the
Asylums Board's Hospitals from the Metropolis. The Local Government
Board attached very great importance to the most energetic
measures being taken in connection with the cases which were
occurring, with the view of preventing the spread of infection. The
letter gave details as to visiting cases, &c., which the Board desired
and went on to state, "The Board deem it desirable that the
Authority should, as regards each case, be informed precisely of the
measures which have been taken by the Medical Officer of Health;
and they will be glad to be furnished with copies of the reports which
are made by him on the subject" The second letter stated that the
Local Government Board were desirous of receiving information as
to the precautions that were being taken where one or more of the
patients had not been removed to the Small-pox Hospital Ships. The
letter requested that the Medical Officer should prepare a report on
the subject, and that a copy of the report should be forwarded to the
Board at as early a date as practicable.
The measures I adopted were, to have the cases removed as quickly
as possible, and then to have the walls and ceilings of the rooms where
the cases occurred damped with water and fumigated with sulphur,
and the walls stripped of their papers, and, together with the ceilings,
lime-whited, and the woodwork washed with a solution of carbolic
acid. The paper stripped from the walls—in some cases many
layers—was burnt in the back yard, or where it amounted to large
quantities, it was removed in the disinfecting van and burnt in the
Boards depot under the shaft. The clothes, bedding, etc., were disinfected
by the steam apparatus. Vaccination and re-vaccination were
advised, handbills relating to vaccination being left at the houses, but
it was very difficult to get the inmates to undergo the operation. The
premises where cases occurred were kept under constant supervision.
The Clerk to the Guardians was apprised of every case, and he made
arrangements for the vaccination of inmates of any infected house who