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4. Aerial convection of Infection. In no case did the infection
appear to spread from one house to neighbouring houses except
by means of personal communication. But in one case a child
apparently was infected while standing on the footpath watching
the removal of a patient to Hospital.
In the case of the workmen employed in building the new
Small-pox Hospital at Long Reach, I believe aerial convection
from the Small-pox ships was the most probable mode of
infection, for it is to be presumed that the Asylums Board
would take steps to prevent their having any communication
with the patients under treatment.
5. Diagnosis. Small-pox having been so rare a disease in
recent years many younger practitioners had never seen a case
before the present epidemic. My services were accordingly
frequently in request for purposes of diagnosis. Altogether
94 doubtful cases were seen either by myself or by Dr. Thomas,
temporary assistant Medical Officer of Health.
Most of these proved to be Small-pox, but others were
Chicken-pox, Acne, Measles, Impetigo, etc.
One case was notified as Enteric Fever, but I was asked
to confirm the diagnosis and on examination decided it was a
case of Small pox.
All cases notified without a request for me to visit were
removed straightway to the Ambulance Station, of these 7
were returned without being sent to the Small-pox ships, the
diagnosis not being confirmed. None of the 94 cases seen by
your Medical Officers at the request of the Medical Attendant
were returned, but the diagnosis was confirmed in every case.
Further, no case was found not to be Small-pox after arriving
at the Small-pox ships and other hospitals. I wish to call