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241
being confined in a room over a w.c. which was subsequently
found to be very defective. The cases in
the other group could not be so satisfactorily explained.
Three of the patients resided in houses where
the sanitary condition was bad, three others in houses
where the condition was unsatisfactory, and one where
the general condition was distinctly good, but where
there was a defective mica flap in front of the bedroom
window—the flap being always open. Indeed
it appeared that in every case, independently of the
special sources of infection already mentioned, there
was evidence that drain emanations could and probably
did get access to the lying-in room.
Typhus Fever.
Paddingtou.
r ondon.
Cases reported, 1899
1
14
Annual average number, 1890-98 ..
0
19
Ca:>e-rafce, 18y'J
000 ...
000
For the second time since 1890, a case of typhus
fever was reported last year. The patient resided in
South Paddington and was a woman of mature age,
caretaker of an empty house of good class. The notification
was sent in under much reservation and
subsequent consultations negatived the first diagnosis.
The patient ultimately died and the cause of death
was certified to be purpura hemorrhagica. The
symptoms were not inconsistent with severe ptomaine
poisoning, but no source of poisoning could be found.