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7
adequate means of isolation, an epidemic of the
disease threatened, and matters assumed a serious
aspect. Several other cases were shortly reported
from the same locality, and as most of the patients
were relatives and neighbours, I have every reason to
believe that my instructions with regard to isolation
were disregarded. Each house where a case
existed was visited by the Sanitary Inspector several
times during the day and late at night, and also
by myself frequently. I had the patients removed
into two adjoining houses, and placed them
under the care of trained nurses; subsequently,
I attended with your Clerk and late Chairman at the
offices of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and had
an interview with one of the head officials, when we
decided on communicating with the Authorities of
the Small Pox Hospital at Highgate, and made
arrangements for the removal of eight patients in
ambulances provided by the former Board. This
arrangement, although entailing considerable expense,
doubtless had the desired effect of stamping out the
disease.
The total number of cases reported was 25 ; all
recovered, with one exception, viz.: a militia recruit,
who was sent home to Chiswick by the Military
Authorities at Hounslow, and died at the Highgate
Hospital a few days after admission. The death
having occurred out of the district, was not recorded
in the register or table.
The houses from which these cases were reported
were thoroughly disinfected by the Sanitary Inspector
and cleansed (under my instructions) ; the bedding
and clothing, which I considered required to be destroyed,
were conveyed to the Pumping Station and