London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Croydon 1894

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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27
accordance with police regulations, had been vaccinated 4 or 5
times.
As regards the infected house, it was only with the greatest
difficulty that I succeeded in getting the most ordinary precautions
observed, and re-vaccination was strenuously opposed,
although urged by Dr. Seaton as well as myself. The persons
concerned were opposed on principle to vaccination, and the
medical attendant also declined to advise it. The disinfection of
the house was carried out thoroughly, and quarantine was
maintained with great difficulty for nearly 14 days afterwards.
Under the circumstances it was fortunate that no further case
occurred.
The other case occurred at the Holborn Union Workhouse,
in Mitcham; this was also a very mild case, and as soon as
diagnosed, was removed to the South Eastern Fever Hospital,
and everything possible was done in the way of disinfection.
Nearly all the inmates of this Workhouse had been re-vaccinated
about 18 months previously, the person attacked having been
among them. There was no clue to the source of this case,
except that he had slept in a bed next to one, which had been
occupied, for a few nights only, by a casual inmate.
Scarlatina.—This disease was not very prevalent during
1894, only 80 cases having been reported from private houses,
which is a great reduction from the record of the previous year,
when 316 cases were notified. There were five deaths, including
two in the Croydon Infirmary, registered as due to "(1)
scarlatina, and (2) diphtheria;" which gives a case-mortality
of 6¼ per cent. Nineteen cases occurred in institutions; 12
being at the Holborn Schools, and 7 in a charitable home
in Merton parish. The first outbreak (4 cases) occurred here in
July; the cases were removed, and the premises disinfected;
but 12 days afterwards another case occurred, whereupon I
examined all the boys, and succeeded in finding one who was
in the "peeling" stage, and who had had no observed eruption.