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Report of the Medical Officer of Health. 59
The four occurred in a house in Atheldene Road, Wandsworth,
and were notified on the 28th December. On inquiry it was found
that one of the cases had been ill since the third week in November,
and that he had cone from a house in Essex Road, Islington, a week
before falling ill. This case might have been infected by his father,
who was removed to St. Bartholomew's Hospital from Essex Road
and died there about the end of October. The cause of death in the
father's case was stated to have been Peritonitis.
The other three cases fell ill on the 14th, 15th and 21st
December, and one of these, a male aged 18, died on the 31st
December.
Three cases in the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Wandsworth,
were infected by another case which occurred there on the 15th
January, but in this primary case no history of infection could be
ascertained. The patient came from Brockley to the Convent on the
10th and was not feeling well on her arrival.
The second case was notified on the 10th February, but had been
ill since the 16th January. She nursed the first case previous to her
removal to hospital.
The third case was notified on the 28th March. She fell ill
about the 24th and had been in the habit of washing the clothes of
the last patient, who was not removed to hospital, but treated in the
isolation ward of the Convent.
The fourth case fell ill about the 12th April, and was nurse to
the second case.
A case, also infected by a previous case, was notified on the 28th
March. This patient nursed a sister at Birmingham who was
suffering from Enteric Fever.
In every case the drains of the house were tested, and in seven
a result was obtained. In two of these the defects were of a serious
nature and necessitated the reconstruction of the drains. In two
cases the cistern for drinking water was found to be in a foul
condition.