Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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Westminster, 5; St. Marylebone, 4; St. Pancras, 1; Hampstead,
2; Islington, 1; St. Giles and St. George, 9; Strand, 4;
Holborn, 1; Bethnal Green, 1; St. Saviour's, 3; Lambeth, 2;
Wandsworth and Clapham, 2. Total 300. All the "discharges"
were transferred to the Ships or the Darenth Camp. Mr. Sweeting
does not dwell on the mortality rates of different classes of
cases, e.g., the vaccinated, the "doubtful" as to vaccination,
and the unvaccinated classes, as the bulk of the cases were
not "completed" at the hospital; but he gives the general
result only. Among the vaccinated cases (232), the mortality
was in round numbers 14 per cent., that of the other two classes
(G8 cases), being 41 percent. Two distinct classes of cases
of small-pox were received during the year, "mixed" cases, mild
and severe, coming under treatment between May and October.
The maximum number in hospital at one time in this period
was 35, and the "transfers" were mostly actual convalescents
sent direct to the Camps. In October, on the recrudescence of the
epidemic in a more virulent form, the admissions were of "severe"
cases only, too ill to be sent direct from their own homes to the
Ships, the maximum number under treatment being limited to 30.
The patients were transferred to the Hospital Ships when recovered
sufficiently to be conveyed, lying down, to the wharf, and thence
by ambulance steamer. The difference in the two classes of cases
admitted in the two periods, is shown by the mortality, for out of
170 admissions in the first period, there were but 17 deaths, as
against 45 out of 130 admissions in the second period. Fiftythree
patients were placed on the "dangerous" list, and were
visited by 73 visitors, who paid 138 visits. The mother and
brother of one patient contracted small-pox and were admitted as
patients. A third visitor was said to have been attacked 13 days
after his visit, though he was not admitted, as being an extrametropolitan
resident. "Nothingshort of compulsory revaccination
of visitors," says Mr. Sweeting, "will prevent these occurrences
and it is a serious question whether this should not be
insisted upon, since the hospital is usually blamed for what might
c