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44
theria in the Metropolis, and expressing their opinion that
the isolation of persons suffering from the disease was one
of the most imperatively necessary available measures for
arresting its spread, and asking the Board to move
Parliament to pass an Act. giving to the Metropolitan
Asylums Board an authority for the reception into its
hospitals of persons suffering from diphtheria.
The Kensington Vestry had taken the initiative in
this matter, and to Dr. Dudfield is mainly due the credit
of our now being able to have hospital accommodation
and effectual isolation in this, as in other infectious diseases.
In this sub-district the disease was at its worst during
theearlier months of the year. 1 investigated the outbreak
and distribution of the disease very closely. It was for
the most part amongst children attending schools.botli
private and public, or amongst other children of the
families these belonged to.
That the disease spread by direct infection principally
is very clear. The inspector's report book shows that
of 40 houses inspected, including schools, only seven
had any apparent defect, and the defects of the seven
were not generally grave in character. The milk. upply
was from several sources I strongly impressed on all concerned
personally and through the Inspectors, the
importance of longer isolation of convalescents than
seemed to be thought nocessary, many moved about at
once freely on recovery, and in this way and through
overlooked slight cases the disease spread.
There was only one death recorded from Typhoid
Fever, but one case was removed to hospital, and
died there.
The 22 deaths from Whooping-Cough represent a