View report page

25
infected, and they, moreover, would probably have been taken ill within a
short period of one another.
The patients ailed as follows:—
Xo. of Case.
1 to 4. 30th March, 1903. 4 cases.
5 5th April, „ 1 case.
6 and 7. 9th ,, „ 2 cases.
8 21st „ „ 1 case.
9 and 10. 29th „ „ 2 cases.
11. 30th May „ 1 case.
12. 1st June „ 1 case.
13. 4th „ „ 1 case (fell in river 31/5/03).
14. 13th ,, „ 1 case.
15. 27th „ „ 1 case.
The blankets were issued on March 15th, and it will be noted that four
boys ailed 16 days later ; and that cases occurred at intervals until June 27th.
The blankets were removed from the vessel on May 13th, and it is reasonable
to infer that the cases, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, were infected about the same
time. Some of these boys were engaged in the collection of the blankets, and
possibly infected thereby. It must be borne in mind that at that time the
blankets were not known to be capable of conveying infection, or the boys
would not have been so employed.
From a careful examination of the facts, I think there is little or no doubt
that the infection of Enteric Fever was conveyed to the boys on the training
ship by means of these blankets from South Africa, and an interesting
addition to our knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease is supplied,
fortunately without loss of life, so far as the boys on the training ship
" Cornwall " were concerned.
In connection with this subject it may be of interest to quote from my
Report presented to the Port Sanitary Committee for the period ending 21st
September, 1901:—
"A case of Enteric Fever has recently been reported upon by the
"Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, the patient being the son
"of a soldier who died in South Africa from Enteric Fever. This
"soldier's kit was sent home to his family, and the patient on unpacking
"it found the linen soiled and apparently just as it had been taken
"from his father's body. He wore some of the articles, and in a little
"more than a week began to feel ill, and was discovered to be suffering
"from Enteric Fever. Whether the assumption in this case be correct
"or not, it is very important that articles of clothing sent home from
"persons who have died in South Africa should be disinfected before
"being despatched, and as many transports arrive in the Port of London.