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48
SCARLET FEVER.
A series of some thirty cases of scarlet fever occurred in Regent's Park
Barracks during April and May amongst the troopers and their children.
Careful enquiry was made into the milk supply, but no infection from this
source was discovered. The course of the outbreak pointed more to personal
infection or through the clothing or the washing, which was done in the
Barracks. Halt of the cases occurred amongst the troopers, and half amongst
the children. Prompt measures were taken from the first; the outbreak spread
itself over some eight weeks, possibly through some slight unrecognised case
without apparent symptoms, although careful medical examination was made
of the troopers and children.
A small outbreak also occurred in one class of a private school from which
seven cases were notified in May. Under the advice of the Medical Attendant
V
the school was temporarily closed.
In May also, in the neighbourhood of Brecknock Road, some eight cases
occuried, probably due to a dairy that derived its supply from a suspected
dealer in milk in Bloomsburv. This supply was promptly discontinued.
TUBERCULOSIS.
In the fourth week of July the British Congress on Tuberculosis was held, and
passed the following resolutions : —
1.—That tuberculous sputum is the main agent for the conveyance of the
virus of tuberculosis from man to man, and that indiscriminate
spitting should, therefore, be suppressed.
2.—That it is the opinion of this Congress that all public hospitals and
dispensaries should present every patient suffering from phthisis
with a leaflet containing instructions with regard to the prevention
of consumption, and should supply and insist on a proper use of a
pocket spittoon.
3.—That the voluntary notification of cases of phthisis attended with tuberculous
expectoration, and the increased preventive action which
it has rendered practicable, has been attended by a promising measure
of success, and that the extension of notification should be encouraged
in all districts in which efficient sanitary administration renders it
possible to adopt the consequential measures.
4.—That the provision of sanatoria is an indispensable part of the
measures necessary for the diminution of tuberculosis.