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24
Smallpox.—Two cases of smallpox occurred during the year. These
cases were of the mild type, prevalent in other districts of London for
some years past. Cases of this disease in a household are generally
far-reaching in their effects, both from a pecuniary and social point of
view. In some instances an unfortunate contact is excluded from work
without pay, or dismissed. From a business aspect, we can understand
the position of the employer, and from a purely public health point of
view, it is debatable as to whether it is the safer plan to exclude a contact
or allow him to continue at work during the incubation period. The
mildness of this type of smallpox is lulling the public into a sense of false
security by obscuring the character of the severe or major smallpox
which has been fortunately absent from this country for some years.
Should it reappear it may bring unfortunate results for the unvaccinated.
Smallpox Arrangements.—The L.C.C. made arrangements by which
cases of suspected smallpox could be admitted to South Wharf Hospital.
Such cases have first to be seen by the practitioner attending the case,
the Medical Officer of Health and one of the consultant experts of the
L.C.C. In the event of a definite diagnosis not being arrived at, patients
would then be admitted as observation cases at the request of the
M.O.H. concerned.

These figures do not include vaccinations and re-vaccinations done
by private practitioners. No vaccination was done by the Medical
Officer of Health under the Public Health (Smallpox Protection)
Regulations, 1917. The report of the Vaccination Officer is given below
in the form of tables prescribed by the Ministry of Health in the
Vaccination Order.