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was considered to have had a very slight attack, while the remainder
are thought to have run the usual course. On the other hand, the
Medical Officers at each of the Institutions receiving cases expressed
the opinion that some inoculated cases appeared to have been much
more severe as a result, while one Croydon case proved fatal.
In assessing the value of this form of inoculation for the prevention
of cases, it should be remembered that in all probability an appreciable
proportion of persons so treated had not actually been exposed to
infection, while of the general population who were known to be exposed
through residing in the district served by the contaminated supply,
less than one per cent. contracted the disease irrespective of inoculation.
From these observations it would appear difficult to demonstrate
any preventive value in inoculation once the recipients have been
exposed to infection, and may be incubating the disease.
The remaining 135 persons were treated chiefly on account of their
contact with known cases or the possibility of such contact in the future.
The usual T.A.B. vaccine was used with the prescribed dose for the
age of the recipient except in 40 cases in which a reduced dose was given,
and in 10 cases which received an oral vaccine. None of this group
contracted the disease, but it should be noted that neither were any
secondary cases known to have occurred among the uninoculated
residents in the District. From these facts, it would appear that the
risk of secondary infection in an urban population of the type residing
in this District, with the exception of those persons actually nursing
cases, is so low as to negative the general application of this form of
preventive treatment even in times of epidemic. The short lived immunity
conferred by inoculation, and the comparative rarity of outbreaks
at the present time certainly contraindicate its general adoption
in this Country in normal times, although when contemplating life abroad
the risk is such that this form of treatment should undoubtedly be
advocated.
Other important features of the epidemic which made it exceptional,
and which should be recorded for future reference are:—
1. The undue publicity which it received both on the wireless
and in the Press. Apart from the unnecessary strain to the officials
who were endeavouring to cope with the outbreak, from the seemingly
never ending telephone calls, etc., which resulted and hampered their
work, a state bordering very closely on public panic was produced.
It is doubtful whether any good whatever resulted from this publicity,
whereas not only did local trade suffer adversely, but much needless
worry, and in some cases, definite ill-health resulted. It would probably
be wiser in the event of any future epidemics for a concerted effort to
be made to confine attention to preventive measures, while very serious
consideration should be given before any use is made of the wireless.
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