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16
On 19tli August a case of scarlet fever was reported on the barge " Ifield "
lying at Charing Cross.
The master had brought his wife and two children from Stroud on loth.
On the 17th one child was taken ill, and the case reported in error to the
Lambeth Yestry, by whose officers the patient was removed to Hospital, but
the barge left without fumigation.
This was carried out on 19th by the Port Sanitary Authority as soon as
reported.
On the 22nd the child's mother was found to be suffering from the same
disease and was therefore removed and the barge again fumigated.
The second child, who was removed on loth, escaped the infection altogether.
On the 2nd October a case of the same disease was found in the barge
" Ernest," lying off Temple Pier.
The patient (a lad) left Stroud on 23rd September and was taken ill on 28th,
but his father did not think there was anything serious the matter with him.
He was taken to the Fulham Hospital and the barge fumigated.
Both these barges clearly brought the infection from Stroud, where scarlet
fever was prevalent.
On the 17th October a patient suffering from scarlet fever was landed at
Tilbury from s.s. '' Tongariro," outward bound, and brought up to London
by rail.
On the following day the case was reported, and he was sent to the Metropolitan
Asylums District Hospital.
DIPHTHERIA.
On the 23rd, 27th, and 28th August respectively, three boys on the
" Arethusa " Training Ship, lying off Greenhithe, were attacked with a mild
form of diphtheria, which happily did not spread, and for which there was no
ascertained cause.
They were isolated in a boat-house on shore, which does duty as an
infectious disease hospital.
The "Arethusa" Committee have for some time been anxious to furnish
Hospital accommodation in accordance with the strong and oft-repeated
recommendations of your Medical Officers, but have not yet been able to
do so.