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Henry P-, aged 14, was noticed ailing about February 17th; he was
admitted to the Metropolitan Hospital on February 26th and certified to be suffering
from enteric fever on February 28th.
Ellen P-, aged 12, sister of above was taken ill about February 20th and
certified to have enteric fever on March 2nd.
The history obtained in connection with these cases pointed to the mother of
the children having been the source of infection. It appears she was taken ill
about the middle of November, 1906, with what was thought at the time to be
influenza accompanied by constipation. There was fever with nocturnal delirium
during part of the time she was ill, and she was confined to her bed during December.
1906, and part of January, 1907. During the latter month she began to get about
again. The story of her illness was very suggestive of that of a case of enteric
fever, and I have very little doubt that she really had an attack and passed infection
on to her children.
The following cases occurred at No. 4, J- Street, a house in a satisfactory
sanitary condition:—
Harriet D-, aged 11, was taken ill about February 8th and was admitted
to the North-Eastern Hospital for Children on February 18th. She was certified
to have enteric fever on February 23rd.
May D-, aged 10, sister to the above, was taken ill about March 14th, was
admitted to the North-Eastern Children's Hospital on March 16th, and certified to
have enteric fever on March 21st. She slept with her sister before the latter's
removed to hospital. Moreover, the mother was frequently at the bedside of Harriet
whilst she was in the hospital, as her condition was serious for a time.
The following cases occurred at No. 4a, H- Street, a house which was
somewhat dirty, but otherwise presented no marked sanitary defects:—
Mary C-, aged 40, was taken, ill about September 9th. She attributed her
illness to mussels which she ate about September 1st. She took to her bed on
September 21st, and was certified to be suffering from enteric fever on the 22nd,
and removed to hospital.
Daisy E. C-, aged 6, daughter of above, was taken ill about October 30th,
and was certified to have enteric fever on November 14th.
There was probably a connection between these cases, although the evidence
is not very conclusive. The husband of Mrs. C- and her daughters visited her
from time to time whilst she was in the hospital, but Daisy does not appear to have
gone with them. These visits may, however, have been the means of her being
infected.