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37
I considered it would be very expensive to open our own Smallpox
Hospital to receive a single case, and I telephoned the Medical Superintendent
of the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Smallpox Hospital asking
if he could take in the case for the Ealing Town Council. He said
he could not do so without the authority of the Clerk to his Board, and
I had to wait until the following morning before approaching the
Clerk's Department. In the meantime instructions were given as to the
isolation of the case at home. On the following morning, the 13th
March, the Clerk agreed to accept the case and the patient was removed
in the course of the morning. The house was then thoroughly disinfected.
This man was apparently infected at the Springfield Mental Hospital
where he visited his wife every Sunday since the month of January and
where his wife developed what was supposed to be chickenpox on the
10th February. He noticed spots on his face and forearms on Tuesday,
the 6th March, but in all probability he developed the disease on the
4th March and he may have been infected two weeks before that, on the
19th February, at Springfield Hospital. The attack was a very mild
one, having a rapid course without the usual malaise and backache
associated with an attack of Smallpox. This may have been accounted
for by his having been vaccinated in infancy and again when 20 years
of age.
There were three contacts in the house at Broomfield Road,
a man and his wife, and a child about two years old. The man and his
wife had been revaccinated four or five years ago, but the child was
unvaccinated. All three were vaccinated by me on the 13th March.
This man remained away from his work until the 26tli March.
As W. B. had, since the onset of his illness on the 4th March, been going
regularly to his work as a bricklayer at Kensal Rise, there was a large
number of fellow workers as contacts. Those living in other districts
were immediately notified by telephone to the Medical Officers of Health
concerned, and those living in Ealing were visited by the Inspectors
and advised to be vaccinated. They have been visited regularly since
so as to detect at the earliest possible stage any who might develop
the disease.
On the 13th March a report on the case, giving full details and also
particulars of contacts, was sent to the Ministry of Health, to the
Medical Officer of Health to the County of Middlesex, and to the Medical
Officer of Health to the County of London.
On the same day medical practitioners in the town were notified
by letter of the occurrence of a case of Smallpox and were informed
that the Council would pay 2s. 6d. for each case of Chickenpox notified.
The Clerk to the Board of Guardians and the two Vaccination Officers
in the Borough were also notified.
In addition to the contacts of W. B., who have had to be kept under
observation, there has had to be supervised a large number of contacts
residing in Ealing who have been visitors to the Springfield Mental
Hospital, where there have been several cases of Smallpox.
Cases of Chickenpox not under a doctor have also been visited.
The Smallpox Hospital is ready to be occupied at any time should
any secondary cases of Smallpox occur. This preparation is necessary
as the Metropolitan Asylums Board will not accept any further cases
from Ealing.
No other cases of Smallpox have occurred. We have been extremely
lucky so far, but we cannot say until the 30th March that we are safe.
THOMAS ORR,
Medical Officer of Health.
March 21th, 1928.