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13
Small Pox.
Copy of Report to the Public Health Committee, dated 2nd March, 1911.
On February 21st I received information that three patients were suffering
from Small Pox at the Mile End Infirmary, viz.:—
Annie L., aged 12, vaccinated in infancy only.
Elizabeth S., aged 31, vaccinated in infancy only.
Mary Jane O., aged 50, vaccinated in infancy only.
On making enquiries I find that A. L., of 3, Key Street, was taken ill on January
28th, and on the same day she attended the Receiving Room of the London Hosp'tal,
where she was given a prescription. At this time she had no rash. She was again
taken to the Receiving Room on February 4th and 5th. There is no doubt that on
both these occasions she had a rash which resembled Chicken Pox. She was thought
to be suffering from Chicken Pox, and was given a dose of medicine. The father of
the patient seems to have been rather persistent on February 5th, and he wanted his
daughter to have continuous treatment. He was told that she could not be treated
at the Hospital, and he was advised to take his daughter home and call in the Parish
doctor. On the same day the girl was removed in an ambulance on a Relieving
Officer's Order to the Mile End Infirmary. She was taken to a general ward, where
there were sixty women and children. She was seen by the Medical Superintendent
and the Assistant Medical Officer. She must have been seriously ill, as she was soon
placed on the dangerous list. Her relatives and friends were allowed to visit her
daily, which they did. Unfortunately, her true condition was not diagnosed until
late on Monday night, February 20th, when two other patients in the ward developed
symptoms which resembled Small Pox. Dr. Brooks telephoned to Dr. Cameron,
of the South-Eastern Fever Hospital, and the latter saw the three patients mentioned
above, about midnight on February 20th. He was of opinion that they were all
suffering from Small Pox, and they were removed in the course of the early morning
of the 21st February to the Small Pox Hospital, near Dartford.
During the course of the day, four other patients were removed to the Small
Pox Hospital, two being from the infected ward, viz.
Ellen Francis H., aged 3, not vaccinated (This patient is dead.)
Elizabeth B., aged 23, vaccinated in infancy only.
Mary Anne B., aged 30, vaccinated in infancy only.
Sarah L., aged 11, vaccinated in infancy only.
Mary Jane B. was a scrubber employed in the Infirmary one day a week. She
worked in the infected ward (D 12). Sarah L., of 3, Key Street, is a sister of Anne L.,
and she was also seen by the Receiving Room Officer at the London Hospital on
February 21st.