London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Woolwich 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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29. The fourth case to be discovered (W.McC.) was the
first to commence. About ten days before J.L. began, W.McC.
played football in a field opposite J.L.'s house, and his ordinary
boots were brought into this house and left in J.L.'s bedroom
during the game.
There is little doubt that he was the source of infection of
J. L., S. A. and E. C. He stayed in bed two days, and was
away from work only a few days. He had resumed work some
time when the notification of E. C., led to his detection and
removal to Hospital He worked in Pentonville Road,
Finsbury; but no other cases were reported at these works,
nor does he appear to have infected anyone in transit.
Apparently his infectiousness was of short duration though
temporarily of great activity.
The three cases known that were probably infected by him
must have contracted the infection within ten days of the
commencement of his illness.
The diagnosis in his case was doubtful owing to his almost
complete recovery when seen, but it was confirmed by the
medical officers of the Asylums Board, and he was detained in
Hospital over four weeks.
30. The usual methods of Hospital isolation, disinfection,
vaccination, and observation of contacts were successfully
carried out. Twenty-three contacts were re-vaccinated, and
the only known contacts who contracted the disease were two
whose visit to the infected house was concealed and who were
consequently not vaccinated.
31. The case rate was 0.05 and there were no deaths. In
London the case rate was 106 and the death rate 0.01.