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25
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1895.
APPENDIX.
Special report upon the present outbreak of Small-pox
in St. George the Martyr, Southwark, and of its relation
to the Blackfriars Salvation Shelter.
Referring to the 12 cases of small-pox within the fortnight ending 13th July, and
of the additional one reported at previous meeting, I beg to state that out of the
above 13 cases, five came directly from the shelter. In addition, several of the workhouse
cases sprang from the original patient B. L. reported on the 19th June. and
who, in all probability, contracted small-pox within the Blackfriars Shelter. These
workhouse cases are, therefore, indirectly traceable to the Shelter. How many of the
remaining cases may be traced to the same source, I am not at present in a position
to state, but I think I shall not be far wrong in saying that the greater proportion
of cases of small-pox that have occurred in this district during the past fortnight
have arisen from the original case of B. L.
The extent of the iufection spread by the original case is by no means confined
to this parish.

Further, in reply to a letter, asking for information, I find five cases reported by
the Metropolitan Asylums Board, all of which had been exposed to infection in this
particular Shelter within a recent period.
After the first case of small-pox, that of B. L., was reported from the
Salvation Shelter, feeling anxious as to the possibility of an out-break, I determined
to visit the Shelter in person. Accordingly, on the night of the 24th of June, in
company of Mr. Edwards, your chief inspector, I visited the Shelter. On that
occasion I was refused admission.
On reporting the refusal to the Health Committee I was instructed to apply for
a Justice's Warrant to enter and inspect the premises. This warrant was obtained
on the 6th of July. On the night of Sunday, the 7th, a few minutes before 1 a.m., in
company with my assistants, I presented the warrant and demanded entry. Forcible
resistance was offered to my entry, and it was only on a threat of bringing up a
strong force of police that I was allowed to enter. Without going into minute detail,
I may say that my visit disclosed overcrowding of the grossest character, along with
utterly inadequate ventilation. In order to satisfy the legal requirements of the case
I have handed in to the Vestry Clerk a certificate of overcrowding in the Blackfriars
Shelter.