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57
The dates when such re-vaccination took place were two in the fifties,
four in the sixties, three in the seventies, seven in the eighties and two
in the nineties, viz., in 1892, male aged 53 with total of four marks,
and in 1896, male aged 41, total of five marks. Two fatal cases occurred
-among this group, viz., male age 50, re-vaccinated, five marks, in 1806,
from hsemorrhagic small-pox, and a male age 38, re-vaccinated, two
marks, in 1878, from confluent small-pox, both common lodging house
cases.
I find also that twelve persons had been re-vaccinated within the
infected period (twelve days); of these three were less than four days
before the patient began to feel ill, and probably therefore eight days
after receiving the small-pox infection; six were between four and six
days, and three were between eight and ten days. With one exception
all these were modified cases; the exception was a female with one mark,
who developed confluent small-pox caught from her husband who had
the hsemorrhagic type, in which possibly the incubation period is shorter
than in ordinary small-pox.
In none of the cases does there appear to have been a previous
attack of small-pox.
1 cannot conclude my report on this outbreak, without expressing
my high appreciation of the splendid manner in which the whole of my
staff (inspectors, clerks, and disinfectors) worked to prevent the spread
of this disease. Many of them gave up their evenings, Sundays and
Saturdays in order that cases might be discovered and promptly dealt
with, and it is certain that if it had not been for their united exertions the
outbreak would have been more serious. This devotion on their part
was recognised by the Public Health Committee, and in the following
vote of thanks which was afterwards adopted by the Council.
" In consequence of the outbreak of small-pox a very considerable
amount of extra labour has been put upon the Staff of this Department.
We have not failed to notice the cheerful and unflinching manner
in which the staff referred to have met the extra labour, and we have
thought fit to recognise it by unanimously passing a vote of thanks to
the Medical Oflicer of Health, and the other members of the Staff of the
Department."
Eventually the Council awarded extra remuneration to such of the
inspectors and clerks as had performed extra duties, as a recognition of
such services; the total sum amounted to £69 14s. The members of
the disinfecting staff were paid for " overtime " weekly.
Scarlet Fever.—There were 25.8 cases per 10,000 population
notified in 1902, as compared with 25*7 in 1901. The London rate was
for 1901 40per cent.4, and for 1902 39.1. Fifteen deaths occurred, giving a case
mortality of 3per cent.3 per cent., as compared with 1.8 per cent. in 1901; 3.3