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237
Owing to the interval which elapses between the
dates of actual infection and of notification of cases, it
is exceedingly difficult to get satisfactory explanations
as to the origin of first infections or to trace the
connection between the first and subsequent cases in
any family. Two interesting cases were noted during
the year, in which the personal element appeared very
clear, (l) A man aged 23 was taken ill with enteric
fever about July 23rd, and removed to St. Mary's
Hospital on August 9th. During the interval the
father attended on the patient who suffered from
diarrhœa. On or about September 4th, the father
sickened with the same disease to which he succumbed
on the 22nd of that month. (2) On or about July
23rd, a woman aged 37 sickened with enteric fever.
She had returned from Southend ten days previously
after a visit of three days. She had some cockles
whilst away. The woman was kept at home for treatment.
At some date before she was completely
recovered, the patient's husband re-occupied his place
in bed and was reported ill with the disease in the
following September, the date of onset being supposed
to be about 11th of that month.
There can be little doubt that the use of a w.c.
in common to two or more families, occasionally leads to
the spread of the disease, especially in its earlier stages.
In South Paddington, the cases were reported
singly from all streets,except Cambridge Place (2 nurses