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The deaths from small pox occurred in the first, third and fourth weeks
of the month, and were as follows:—
At 1, Fort Place, Highbury Vale, a chandler's shop keeper, aged 29 years... Unvaccinated.
„ Union Cottage, Holloway Road, a milk carrier, aged 33.
„ 40, Sidney Street, Maiden Lane, the son of a wood sawyer, aged 2 years Unvaccinated.
The number of cases attended by the parochial surgeons and the
dispensary have fallen from 16 to 10.
The unusual number of 9 deaths from violent causes appear on the
Table. Of these one was a suicide by hanging, and seven were deaths of
young children, the result of accident or negligence. One child died from
injuries inflicted by a fall; one was scalded by the spilling over it of a
cup of hot tea, and four were suffocated in bed.
I have further to note, in explanation of the unusual number of cases
of disease in the infant poor house, that there has occurred there a mild
outbreak of ophthalmia. Fifteen cases were admitted into the infirmary
at various times in the course of a month, but none of them appear to
have been severe. Care, extreme personal cleanliness, a well varied diet,
and immediate isolation of those affected are the means of preventing
and arresting the spread of this disease in establishments of young
children.
Two eases of infectious fever have occurred also in the body of the
Workhouse. The first case was that of a woman who had been on tramp
and brought in with her the seeds of the disease. Although no other
cases have arisen to my knowledge, the occurence should tend to hasten
the steps now being taken to provide a new Workhouse, and in themeanwhile
to lessen the crowded state of the house by the temporary
removal of some of its inmates.
I beg to append to this Report, at the request of the Metropolitan Association
of Medical Officers of Health, a copy of a "Memorandum,"
issued by that body, "concerning the present prevalence of typhus fever
in London," and I have also forwarded a copy, with some recommendations
of my own, to the Board of Trustees.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Offices,
December 1 st, 1883.