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case with me, we decided, in the circumstances, to send
her to the Surrey Smallpox Hospital for observation. She
was vaccinated before removal by the local practitioner.
The vaccination took well, and after a period of observation
it was considered not to be a case of Smallpox. The girl has
now returned home.
General Procedure.
Upon first becoming aware of Smallpox in the district
I notified the Ministry of Health by telephone, and subsequently
in writing. The Acting County Medical Officer
of Health for Surrey was informed immediately. Letters
were sent to all the medical practitioners in the district on
May 17th and 18th, 1928, informing them of the presence
of Smallpox in the Borough, and circular letters were also
sent to the neighbouring local authorities. Also I informed
the Clerk to the Kingston Board of Guardians and the
Vaccination Officer for the Kingston Union.
Compulsory Notification of Chickenpox.
When the suspected case of Smallpox occurred in the
girl it was considered advisable to recommend that cases of
Chickenpox be made compulsorily notifiable. For this purpose
a special meeting of the Public Health Committee was
held on May 22nd, 1928, and a recommendation made at
this meeting was submitted to, and approved by, a special
meeting of the Town Council, held on May 25th, 1928. The
recommendation was made under Section 7 (6) of the Infectious
Diseases (Notifications) Act, 1889, and came into
operation on June 2nd, 1928, for a period of one month from
that date. As far as possible, all notified cases of Chickenpox
have been visited.
Contacts and Vaccination.
Lists of contacts were prepared after each case, and
particulars were circulated promptly to Medical Officers of
Health in whose districts any of the contacts resided. Copies
of the lists were sent to the Acting County Medical Officer of
Health, and to the Vaccination Officer, who, I understand,
communicated with each person and drew attention to the
urgent need for vaccination. I visited all the contacts who
resided in the borough and advised with regard to