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7
The 18 deaths were 3.7 per thousand of the total deaths in
St. Pancras, of these eight ware unvaccinated, seven were
badly vaccinated, and in three the condition of vaccination
was not known.
In the whole of London the deaths from this disease were
5.8 per thousand of the total deaths, and were therefore in
excess of the deaths in St. Pancras.
In the beginning of the year the parish was threatened
with a serious outbreak of this disease. The first two cases
occurred in Brunswick Grove, on January 5th and 6th. On
January 9th they were reported to the Sanitary Department,
and were the same day removed to hospital on the order of
the District Medical Officer. They were probably infected by
their cousins, who lived in an adjoining parish, and who were
suffering from Small Pox during the previous December.*
A house to house enquiry was immediately instituted, but
no other cases in the neighbourhood could be discovered.
About ten days after the first cases were removed to
hospital, two other members of the same family were
attacked, and were removed to hospital, the one on January
22nd and the other on January 26th.
Between February 5th and February 10th, 11 other cases
became known, 12 in Brunswick Grove and two in Brighton
Street. They were all at once removed to hospital. On
February 12th the outbreak was brought to the knowledge of
the Vestry and of the Board of Guardians, as the Vaccination
Authority. Facilities were at once given by the Vestry for a
house to house visitation in the affected area by the appointment
of three specially qualified inspectors, who did everything
in their power to procure the vaccination of all persons
susceptible to Small Pox.
The neighbouring vaccination station was opened, and the
Public Vaccinator, both at the station and at the houses of
the sick, was himself engaged in protecting susceptible
persons from infection of Small Pox.
The outbreak soon terminated, a result which is certainly
attributable to the energetic action taken by the Vestry in
temporarily increasing the Sanitary Staff, and to the efforts
of the Public Vaccinator, the District Medical Officer, and
the Believing Officers, who at the time received the thanks of
the Sanitary Committee for their prompt services.
*I am indebted to Dr. Makuna, then Medical Superintendent to the
Small Pox Hospital at Fulham, for important information in connection
with this outbreak.