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majority the cases were taken to the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board; a
few were removed to the Liverpool Road fever hospital, and some, principally cases of
enteric fever, to general hospitals in the Metropolis. Of the infectious cases receivable
in hospitals of the Board, 82.4 per cent. were removed to hospital, as compared with
81.4 per cent. in 1898, 71.4 in 1897, 65 in 1896, 57 in 1895, and 61 in 1894. From
these figures it may readily be surmised that the people of Shoreditch generally have
learnt to appreciate the importance and advantage of the isolation and treatment
afforded at the various hospitals for infectious diseases have been provided for the use
of the Metropolis.
During November there was a good deal of delay in obtaining the removals of
cases of enteric fever to hospital, patients in some instances having to wait for several
days before accommodation could be found for them.
Three instances of recurrence of scarlet fever following upon the return of patients
from the fever hospitals came under observation. In two of these there were grounds
for believing that the second cases were due to the return of the patients whilst still
infectious. There were also two cases of recurrence following upon the return of
diphtheria patients from hospital.
SMALL-POX.
Two certificates, dated December 22nd and 24th respectively, were received
respecting cases of the above disease. In the first case the patient, W. B-, aged
eight years, had been living at No. 29, G-Street, but early in October he became an
in-patient at the Children.s Hospital, Great Ormond Street. Whilst there he contracted
scarlet fever, and on October 18th was removed to the Eastern Fever Hospital, where
he remained until he was removed to the smallpox hospital on December 23rd. He
was taken ill with smallpox on December 20th, the eruption shewing itself on the
22nd. The second case was that of a youth named J. T. B-, aged 17, who had
been residing at No. 27. S-Road. On December 4th he was removed to the
Eastern Fever Hospital suffering from scarlet fever, and on December 18th he was
taken ill with smallpox and removed to the Smallpox Hospital on December 24th.
Both these patients had been vaccinated in infancy. From enquiries made there is
no doubt that the disease in both cases was contracted in the Fever Hospital.
During 1899 there were altogether some 29 cases of smallpox in the Metropolis,
and 3 deaths from this disease were registered.
VACCINATION IN SHOREDITCH.
During the seven years ending 1898 there has been each year a great decrease in
the number of vaccinations performed in the parish. Although the complete figures
are not yet available there is reason to believe that during 1899 an increase in the
number of vaccinations has taken place as compared with the numbers for the previous
three years.