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shall be kept under observation until Tuesday or Wednesday next, as is proved by
the fact that two contacts have already developed Small Pox.
Unfortunately the list of contacts is not a complete one. The names and addresses
of the visitors to the wards on Sunday only are taken. These, even, are not complete
nor are the addresses correct in many instances. The names of the visitors to patients
on the dangerous list are not taken at all. As these have been allowed in Ward D 12
daily and for prolonged periods, it will be readily seen that I am not in possession
of some of the addresses of the most important contacts. I have been able to discover
some of them by making inquiries at the home addresses of the patients.
The origin of the disease remained a mystery for a long time, but I believe
I have discovered how it was communicated to Annie and Rebecca L. I obtained
the names and addresses of all the acquaintances and friends of the L. family. By
visiting and making enquiries I found that a friend visited them on or about
January 21st.
In order to follow and understand the story correctly I will start at the other
end. On December 1st a patient was taken ill in the neighbourhood of Bell Lane.
She had a rash, which the doctor in attendance considered to be Chicken Pox. He
had some doubts of the case, and he called in another doctor in consultation to see
the patient. They both agreed it was a case of Chicken Pox. Towards the second
week the patient (Mrs. B.) had a miscarriage, and another doctor was called in, on
December 6th. He continued to attend until December 12th, or thereabouts. This
doctor recollects the rash, but it did not impress him at the time that it resembled
that of Small Pox in any way. Mrs. B. had several young children, but they were
all vaccinated. Mrs. B. was ill (probably from the effects of the miscarriage) until
within a few days of Christmas.
On December 20th a lodger (a boy of sixteen) was taken ill, the rash appearing
about three days afterwards. He was away from work until January 16th. For
three weeks he was hardly out of his room, and for a greater portion of the time
he was in bed.
On or about January 17th his sister was taken ill. She had a similar rash, but
not of so severe a character. Both were attended by a doctor, who is of opinion that
both had Chicken Pox. The girl (L. G.) returned to work on February 13th. It is
quite possible that Annie L. contracted the disease from L. G. when she visited the
premises in Bell Lane on January 21st, Annie L. should then be taken ill on
February 1st or 2nd, the rash appearing on February 3rd or 4th. She was certainly
ill on January 28th, and the rash had not then appeared.
The facts, as stated above, do not point absolutely to the disease being communicated
to Annie and Rebecca L. by the girl L. G., nor have I anything to prove
that L. G and her brother had Small Pox. These facts are, however, very suggestive.
B