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lodging-house, or casual ward. Measures were taken for the prevention of extension of the
disease. Concerning one case notified there was error in diagnosis.
Limehouse—Of the total cases notified, 14 had been vaccinated in infancy, and four
were unvaccinated, of whom one died. Concerning those remaining no particulars were
obtained. All were removed to hospital, the vaccination officer communicated with, and
the usual precautions taken. Concerning two cases notified there was error in diagnosis.
Mile-end Old-town—Smallpox was prevalent in the latter part of July and early part of
August, having extended from Whitechapel. The medical officer of health reports that "for
about a fortnight previous to its appearance in the hamlet your officials had seen the gradual
progress of the epidemic towards this district, and preparation was made for its reception."
Measures were taken for the limitation of the disease. A tabular statement gives particulars
ascertained as to the origin of each case, and the condition as to vaccination of the sufferer.
Poplar—The report relating to Poplar and Bromley contains a tabular statement,
showing the source of infection when this was ascertained. Referring to the precautionary
measures taken, the medical officer of Poplar and Bromley reports—"Where the patients
were the bread winners of the family I informed Mr. Lough (clerk to the guardians), so that
the wives, and in one instance a widow lodger taking in work (which was stopped), might
obtain parish relief for themselves and children without.applying at the guardians'.offices, and
waiting among a number of persons and thereby likely to spread infection."
St. George-the-Martyr—The medical officer of health discusses in a special report the
relation of cases of smallpox occurring in the district in July to the Salvation Army shelter
in Blackfriars-road. Thus, of 12 cases occurring in the first fortnight of the month and one
antecedent case, he writes, "Five came directly from the shelter. In addition, several of the
workhouse cases sprang directly from the original patient, B. 4, reported on the 19th June,
and who in all probability contracted smallpox within the Blackfriars shelter. How many of
the remaining cases may be traced to the same source 1 am not at present in a position to
state, but I think I shall not be far wrong in saying that the greater proportion of cases of
smallpox that have occurred in this district during the past fortnight have arisen from the
original case B. 4." He also learnt that four cases of smallpox occurring in other districts had
slept in the shelter " during the period of infection." On the 7th July the medical officer, after
previous refusal, obtained admission into the shelter. He writes—" Without going into
minute detail I may say that my visit disclosed overcrowding of the grossest character, along
with utterly inadequate ventilation."
He found on the occasion of this inspection 1,031 persons in the shelter, and application
was made to the magistrate for an order to abate overcrowding. After a protracted hearing
the order was made, the magistrate placing a limit of 550 persons as that which should not
be exceeded.
Newington—The medical officer of health states that among the cases notified "in no
single instance did the disease spread beyond the tenement in which it occurred." All were
removed to hospital.
Lambeth—Of the total number of cases of smallpox notified, 43 were removed to hospital.
Battersea—The report of the medical officer of health contains a table showing that of 20
patients removed to the hospital ships 18 were vaccinated in infancy, none w'ere re-vaccinated,
and two were unvaccinated.
Wandsworth—The medical officers of health of Clapham and Wandsworth parishes supply
details of the cases of smallpox occurring during the year. In Clapham the notification of
one case led to the discovery of two antecedent and previously unsuspected cases of this
disease. Of seven cases in Wandsworth parish three had been associated with each other in
the Wandsworth workhouse.
Camberwell—The report of the medical officer of health contains a detailed account of
the cases of smallpox occurring in Camberwell during the year. Eleven cases occurred in the
Constance-road Workhouse, 10 of which were due to infection from the first of these cases, a
man who had before admission been resident in a common lodging-house. The illness of a
woman in Becket-street, which had been thought to be erysipelas and chicken-pox, appears
to have been the cause of infection of a group of cases in that street. The attack by smallpox
of a girl in Toulon-street also gave rise to a series of cases in that vicinity. Of 9 infants
attacked, 7 were unvaccinated, and of the other 2, 1 had been vaccinated only two days, and
the other only nine days, before the appearance of the eruption. Of 23 persons between 5 and
15 years of age who were attacked, 9 were vaccinated and 14 unvaccinated ; of 20 persons
between 15 and 30 who were attacked, 1 was unvaccinated, 15 had been vaccinated in
infancy, concerning 4 there was no information. Of the attacked persons over 30 years of
age, 4 were unvaccinated, 9 had been vaccinated in infancy, 5 were said to have been
vaccinated but bore no scars, and concerning 10 cases no information was forthcoming. " My
inquiries made me aware of the disquieting fact that at 13 houses out of 45 that were
attacked there were unvaccinated people." Referring to the neglect of vaccination in the
district the medical officer states that "If the arrangements of the isolation hospitals should
by any means be put out of gear and smallpox were to come amongst us, nothing would
preserve the parish from a wide-spread and severe epidemic."
Plumstead—Of the cases of smallpox notified all were adults, and 7 occurred in the
workhouse and infirmary. All the sufferers but one were removed to hospital.