London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Shoreditch 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

This page requires JavaScript

26
The following is a note as to the way in which the disease became
prevalent in the Ware Street neighbourhood:—
Amelia P-, aged 21, of No. (J, Ware Street, employed at a paper-box
factory in Pear Tree Street, Finsbury, began to ail about the beginning of
January. She became unable to work on January 14, and was certified and
removed to hospital on January 31. Mrs. T-, aged 20, married, of No. 2,
Nancy Street, was ill from about February 10 until the end of March ; her
case was not certified, but the history leaves little doubt that it was one of
enteric fever. Sarah C-, aged 18, of No. 2, Nancy Street, sister to Mrs.
T-, was ailing from about February 20. She went into the Shoreditch
Infirmary on March 11, and left that institution on April 8. Widal's test was
negative, but there is no doubt that this case was one of enteric fever.
Edward C-, aged 30, of No. 2, Nancy Street, a wood and coal seller at
a store kept by the C- family, at No. 40, Ware Street, nearly opposite
No. 6, was ailing from about March 1, admitted to the Shoreditch Infirmary
on April 2, and certified to have enteric fever on April 10.
Richard C-, aged 17, of No. 2, Nancy Street, a glass blower, unemployed,
was ailing from March 20, and was certified to have enteric fever on
April 11, and was removed to the Shoreditch Infirmary.
Florence C-, aged 22, of No. 4, Ware Street, sister-in-law to the above
patients, was taken ill about April 24, admitted to St. Bartholomew's Hospital
on May 19, and certified to have enteric fever on June 20. This person
visited the C- family at No. 2, Nancy Street, and also visited Edward and
Richard C-, whilst they were lying ill in the infirmary.
Nos. 4 and 6, Ware Street, are next door, and No. 2, Nancy Street, is
about forty yards away. No. 4, Ware Street was in a fair sanitary condition,
the other two houses were dirty. There was nothing amiss with the drains.
The C- family appeared to be well known, their wood and coal store being
patronised by people in Ware Street, Watson's Place, Louisa Street, and Nancy
Street. Mrs. C-, the mother of the family, also appeared to have a large
connection of friends and acquaintances amongst her neighbours. Her
husband di^d from the effects of a fall on March 20. He sold shellfish from
a stall at the corner of Nancy Street. The stall was not kept on after his
death. Amelia P- knew the C-s. The information obtained was
somewhat contradictory as to the extent of the intimacy, but I believe she
was the source of infection, so far as the C family were concerned. From
about February 10 until April 10, a period of two months, infection was in
the family at No. 2, Nancy Street, before the first case was certifie'd. The
first two cases in the family were, without doubt, enteric fever, and the two