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26
"On comparison of different epidemics an almost constant
ratio is observed between the amount of the Hospital operations
and the degree of excess of Small Pox in the neighbourhood."
Mr. Power then concludes by saying:—"There must be some
condition or conditions operating to produce the observed
distribution of Small Pox around the Hospital that have pertained
to the Hospital as such, and that have been in excess of the
conditions for Small Pox extension as usually recognised."
The Report goes on to say—
"I have no choice but to accept the above conclusions, and
to believe that the Fulham Hospital, with all its advantages of
site and construction, and with the many excellences of its
administration, has, by dissemination of Small Pox material
through the atmosphere, given rise to an exceptional prevalence of
Small Pox in its neighbourhood"
From this report it is clear that an excess of Small Pox existed
in the neighbourhood of the Fulham Hospital, and I can show
that the same thing occurred at Stockwell, not, I think, by
dissemination of Small Pox material through the atmosphere, but
in some other way.
It is instructive to notice the distribution of the disease in this
epidemic when a large number of patients were under treatment
at the Hospital, and compare it with a later epidemic when the
Hospital contained only a few cases.
Small Pox assumed an epidemic form in Lambeth in April, and
in the third week of that month two cases occurred in the
same house in Stamford Street, followed by other cases in
the Inner Wards, apparently having no connection with one
another. Then one case occurred at the Industrial Schools at
Norwood. Then, on May 3rd, a case occurred in the Stockwell
District (Tandridge Place), followed on the 19th by one in
Willington Road; on the 26th by one in Edithna Street, and
one in Dalyell Road; on the 28th by one in Theobald's Buildings,