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44
Railways.
In one instance there was a railway about 120 yards distant
from the house, but in none of the others was a railway
proximate even to that extent.
Occupation of Cases.
7 were school children, 3 were under school age, one was
a teacher, one a children's nurse and one a butcher's assistant.
The attack rate was approximately 13 per 100,000 of the
population, which compares very favourably with that suffered
by many other areas.
The fatality rate of just under 8% was also not alarming.
The months in which the cases occurred were:—
July 2
August 5
September 2
October 3
November 1
General.
This disease affords a fertile field for speculation but rather
arid soil for conviction.
Considerable evidence has been submitted for analysis under
the survey conducted by Dr. A. Mc Farlane (with the approval of
the Ministry of Health) and the results reflected from such a wide
range of cases as will come within his purview should be better calculated
to elicit significant facts than is the appreciation of purely
local figures. His report is awaited with interest.
Our local practitioners were given an early opportunity of seeing
the Ministry film on the disease. A close liaison was maintained
throughout with the County whilst Rush Green Hospital relieved
us of all isolation worries; after care receiving due provision.
A major pre-occupation in such an outbreak is how best to ensure
that the public realise that all reasonable steps have been taken to
maintain control. Just as the spectacular course of action will be
applauded so does the conservative tend to be under-valued. Closing
this, restricting that, prohibiting the other, looks better than it is
save under exceptional circumstances which did not here arise.
Idealistic advice such as isolating every case of pyrexia of unknown
origin and the like is so impracticable as to be largely futile,
and in the event of a really large outbreak it would be a pity if immediate
hospitalisation of every suspected case came to be regarded
as the only satisfactory course of action.
We were fortunate in that Press and public alike approached
the situation rationally and did not embarass us.
In the ultimate while we were far from escaping unscathed we
fared by no means badly relative to many other areas attacked.