View report page

23
went by that our efforts had been successful and that no fresh
cases arose. We had then, at one time, within an area of ¼ square
mile, what amounted to 3 foci of Small-pox infection in two
streets of poor class property, mostly let in lodgings and
unduly crowded, and the disease did not in either case spread
even to the house next door; those people who had caught the
infection had each remained for some time in actual contact
with those who either had the disease or who were shortly to be
stricken down with it. There is no doubt that Small-pox infection
can travel through the air for short distances, and it is held by
some that it can do so for distances of a mile or more—but this
experience at Finchley supports the view that given every
possible precaution of strict quarantine of all those occupying the
same premises as the patient, or patients, there is little tendency
for such infection to spread. If such were not the case it is
impossible to understand how it came about that, under
exceptionally favourable circumstances (as any one would admit
who saw the bulk of the property and the class of residents in the
street in which 2 of the infected houses were situated) that
Small-pox did not travel right down the street.
I have pointed out that it was manifest early in the outbreak
that in common with the bulk of the outer zone of
London we possessed no isolation accommodation for Small-pox
that could be counted upon. Since the only available Hospital
at Highgate could not admit our second case, it was my duty to
advise that some provision should be made in our own district to
meet the probability of the further spread of the outbreak and
also to protect us against future risks. The Board, appreciating
the grave danger that threatened the district, fully recognised the
necessity of making some provision, for everything pointed to the
probability of a considerable extension of the outbreak; and the
Surveyor was instructed to lay down a foundation for a small
temporary Small-pox Hospital, near the present Scarlet Fever
Hospital, with the least possible delay. In the matter of about
4 days fro 11 the completion of this a temporary iron building
could then be made available tor patients.