View report page

27
Discovered by Sanitary Inspector, School Attendance
Officer and other sources 28
221
Houses notified but no disease present 31
Total 252
PREVALENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASES
Owing to the proximity of the Borough to London the
ma pox. past year has been an anxious one for the members of
the Health Committee and sanitary officials, due to the continuance
of the epidemic of small-pox in London, which began in August,
1901. Eleven cases of the disease were notified in the Borough
during the year 1902, ten of which were removed to Dockwell
Hospital. On six different occasions throughout the year, the
disease was introduced into the Borough, but, fortunately, it was
confined to the individual or members of the household in all but
one instance ; in this case the patient died before the characteristic
rash developed, and consequently before the nature of the illness
was diagnosed.
Many cases of chicken pox also occurred throughout the year.
Most of these were seen by the Medical Officer of Health in consultation
with the Medical Practitioners in attendance. Four such
cases were removed to the special observation wards at Dockwell
on account of insufficient accommodation for isolation at home or
on account of a doubt as to the nature of the illness.
It is very satisfactory to note that no deaths occurred amongst
the patients suffering from small-pox or chicken pox who were
removed to Dockwell Hospital.