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14
In St. Pancras, on April 14th, a Steward from the sameship
was certified as having Smallpox, and on the 19th hedied.
Three other persons who had been in contact with
him or his effects were likewise certified on 27th April and6th
and 20th May respectively.
In this district a valet living at the address first
mentioned in this report became ill on 30th April, and
died on 9th May. Before and after death he was
examined by six medical men and neither of them was
of the opinion that the man had died of smallpox,,
and his death was certified as being due to malignant
measles and exhaustion. The wife of this man was just
before death removed to the lunatic observation ward of
St. George's Infirmary and discharged from there, as safe
on 16th May, to the house of her son-in-law in Kensington)
Parish.
In Chelsea, where she had taken apartments, she
herself was certified on May 19th as suffering from
smallpox. In St. George's, Hanover Square, the ward
attendant who attended the woman just mentioned was
on May 23rd similarly certified.
In Kensington, on 30th May, two persons at the house
to which the valet's wife was discharged on 16th May
were also certified to be suffering from Smallpox.
A perusal of this report shows that no known case of
Smallpox has occurred in this parish, and the most careful
investigations do not reveal a trace of direct evidence of
the contact of the valet with any of the persons who have
been suffering from this disease or with any other sick
person.
A statement as to his contact with a person suffering
from Measles at a house in "Victoria-street, and a suggestion
that a near relative of the valet was employed at a
hospital near the various premises in St. Pancras and St
Marylebone, at which Smallpox occurred (and this might
be a possible source of the valet's disease) were carefully
followed up, but with entirely negative results.
I may state that every possible precaution was taken
after the valet's death to have the body, rooms, bedding,
&c., thoroughly disinfected.