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136
on that day the accommodation provided for the children was
inspected and the girl who later developed paratyphoid fever was
reported to be indisposed with "a slight stomach disorder."
On the 28th May a further letter was received from the Medical
Officer of Health of Eastleigh stating that two children were removed
from the ship on its arrival at Southampton and isolated and that
these children had since been proved to be suffering from typhoid
fever. Enquiries as to the bacteriological findings in these cases
showed that these children suffered from typhoid fever and could
not have been the source of infection in the case of paratyphoid
"B" fever discovered among the children who came to Hackney.
At that time no arrangements for regular medical inspection
of the children or for adequate isolation and care of any children
suspected of infectious disease had been made by the Army
Authorities. Upon visiting the Congress Hall on that day it was
found that ten children had been seen by a local practitioner and
were confined to bed. Four of these children had been isolated in
a separate block but the other six were still occupying cubicles in the
dormitories. A diagnosis of typhoid or paratyphoid was made as
regards one child, the first to be ill, and a sample of blood sent for
examination confirmed the diagnosis as paratyphoid. The girl was
removed to hospital and disinfection was carried out on that day.
From the 28th May a daily inspection of the premises was made
and other cases of illness occurring from time to time among the
children were investigated, bacteriological examinations being
carried out when necessary. Isolation accommodation was arranged
and medical and nursing staff were provided by the Army Authorities
and other necessary measures to prevent the spread of infection
were carried out. It is pleasing to report that no further cases of
infectious disease occurred among the children although the last
batch of children did not leave the Borough until the end of August.
During the year 30 specimens of blood and 16 specimens of
faeces from persons suspected to be suffering from enteric fever
(typhoid or paratyphoid) were submitted to bacteriological examination.
Positive results were obtained from 3 blood and 4 faeces
specimens.
Puerperal Fever and Pyrexia.—There were 22 cases of puerperal
fever notified during 1937. All of these occurred in or were
removed to hospital. None of the patients lived in a house in which
there had occurred recently a case of scarlet fever.
There was one death from puerperal sepsis, giving a death-rate
per 1,000 total births of 0.33 as compared with 0.94 for England and
Wales,