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and a doctor sent for. When it was found that the sick person was suffering
from Small-pox, and the information conveyed to me, his removal by telephone could
only be done before 8 p.m. Between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. he could be removed by
sending a telegram from the Whitechapel Road Post Office. After that hour he
could only be removed by sending a telegram from Liverpool Street Station or by
going direct to Homerton or any other Ambulance Station. In either case, much
time was lost and a great deal of mischief could be done during that time. The
reply of the Asylums Board was to the effect that during the four weeks ended on
January 11th, 1902, the daily average number of applications made to the Stations
after 8 p.m. for the removal of Small-pox cases was 2.7. In view of the small
number of cases and of the very considerable cost of maintaining a night staff at
the office, the Board did not feel they would be justified in acceding to the request.
Considering that a patient can be removed at any time after the usual hours by
the method above mentioned, I fail to see that any very great increase in the staff
would be required at the Ambulance Stations, and one officer only, would be necessary
during the night at the Board's offices, to receive the telephonic communications.
Even though the number of daily applications remained as low as 2.7, I
think the extra expense would be more than justified. This number must have
been materially increased afterwards, as at this time the epidemic had not by any
means reached its height.
Early in the year I reported to the Public Health Committee that unavoidable
delay was caused by the present system of vaccination. The Act requires that information
is at once to be sent to the Vaccination Officer of the occurrence of any
cases of Small-pox. The Vaccination Officer visits the premises, and obtains the
names and ages of all those that want to be vaccinated. He reports to the Public
Vaccinator, who then visits. In all instances I notified the Public Vaccinator at the
same time as the Vaccination Officer, and, in the case of two of these officers,
they visited without waiting for the report of the Vaccination Officers.
I suggested to the Public Health Committee the advisability of employing a
qualified medical man, who would devote his whole time to visiting houses where
Small-pox had occurred, and vaccinating all those who desired to be vaccinated,
immediately the patient had been removed to the Hospital. It was decided by the
Public Health Committee that an application be made to the Local Government
Board to sanction the proposed appointment during the period for which
the epidemic lasted, and also to ask the Local Government Board to contribute
toward the expense by supplying the lymph free of charge. In reply, the
Board intimated that as the administration of public vaccination is at present
vested by law in the hands of the Boards of Guardians, the Board could not understand
on what grounds it was proposed by the Borough Council to employ a medical
practitioner, other than the Public Vaccinator, to carry out the work which that
officer is appointed by the Guardians to perform. Unavoidable delay was, of course,
the chief reason. At the same time, vaccination is a sanitary measure, and I fail to
understand, why the administration of the Vaccination Acts was ever placed in the