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8
Smallpox.

Chickenpox was made notifiable for varying periods in seven metropolitan
boroughs during the year, viz., Bethnal Green, Chelsea, Deptford, Lambeth, Poplar,
Southwark and Stepney. In Paddington chickenpox has been notifiable since
1923.
Smallpox of a virulent type was introduced into London by passengers and
members of the crew of the S.S. Tuscania which arrived at Liverpool on 1st April
from Bombay where virulent smallpox was epidemic. The first case on board this
vessel was a seaman who was landed on 27th March at Marseilles, where he died.
The vessel then proceeded to Liverpool and passengers were invited to be vaccinated
on board.
A list of contacts who had proceeded to London from Liverpool was received
on 4th April and was circulated to all medical officers of health the same day. A
further list was received on 9th April from Glasgow, where the Tuscania proceeded
after leaving Liverpool, of passengers who had left the vessel at Marseilles on 27th
March and had travelled overland to London. This list was circulated at once.
Further names and addresses were received during the next few days and they were
telephoned to the medical officers of health concerned as soon as they were received.
Owing to the period which had elapsed between the disembarkation of the passengers
and the receipt of the list of contacts, several were found to be already suffering
from smallpox when visited by an officer of the local sanitary authority. Of these
cases, 7 occurred in London, the last being removed to hospital on 12th April. In
each instance, vaccination of the contacts was offered and generally accepted.
Other cases from the same source occurred in different parts of the country
and abroad. Of the 1,568 passengers and crew 45 primary cases were notified,
and of these, two occurred in France, i.e., the seaman who died at Marseilles and a
passenger taken ill in an hotel in Paris.