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42
ST. PANCRAS BOROUGH COUNCIL.
Public Health Department.
Town Hall,
Pancras Road, N.W.
190 .
To the person in charge of
suffering from an infectious disease
Sir or Madam,
It has been reported to me that the above is suffering from Chicken-pox,
I have received no notice from you as required by the Act of Parliament,
and beg to inform you that you are liable to a fine of forty shillings for not
giving notice of Chicken-pox, and that in not obtaining medical opinion of
the rash when Small-pox is prevalent you are exposing your family and
neighbours to grave risk.
I am, Sir or Madam,
Your obedient Servant,
John F. J. Sykes,
Medical Officer of Health.
At the commencement of the outbreak it soon became apparent that modified
Small-pox was most difficult to diagnose, and that Chicken-pox was not the
only disease for which it could readily be mistaken, that no bacteriological
examination was available to assist diagnosis and that clinical examination
could only be adopted. In accordance with a resolution of your Borough
Council of the 25th September, in October a Medical Referee was appointed
for each of the eight Wards, to consult in doubtful cases of Small-pox or
suspicious eruptions or symptoms and to certify his diagnosis.