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35
Smallpox,
Plague,
Dysentery,
Malaria,
Cerebrospinal fever,
Enteric fever,
Typhus,
Other infectious diseases.
The above include civil as well as military cases.
Contacts were also kept under observation in connection
with cases of diphtheria in a civilian institution, viz., the St.
James' Infirmary.
Small-pox.
During 1919 three cases of small-pox were notified in
Battersea, of which the first case was notified on the 31st
December, 1918, in the person of a young woman, E. B., who
resided at 40 Bourton Street, St. Pancras, and who came to
spend the Christmas holidays with some friends at 9 Severus
Road, arriving there on the 25th December. The case was
removed to hospital the same day. Subsequently on the 16th
January, A. H. and E. H., residing at 9 Severus Road, were
notified to be suffering from the disease.
There can be no doubt that the Battersea patients were
infected by their visitor from St. Pancras, and were part of
a group of 18 cases which occurred between 7th December,
1918, and 31st March, 1919, in the Boroughs of St. Pancras
(12), Islington (2), Battersea (2), Holborn (1), and the City
of Westminster (1). The first of this group was a man (G. N.),
who resided at 59 Red Lion Square, Holborn. A few days
later, on the 11th December, an Australian soldier was found
to be suffering from, small-pox. From enquiries it was found
that this man had stayed at 59 Red Lion Square, Holborn,
and that this house was much frequented by Overseas soldiers,
and that small-pox had occurred among a party of soldiers
who had passed through London previously. The Australian
stayed with other friends at 40 Bourton Street, St. Pancras,
a night or two before reporting sick on the 11th December,
with the result that three further cases occurred at this house
between the 28th December, 1918, and 6th January, 1919.
The first of the St. Pancras group of cases, that of the 28th
December, was the case notified in Battersea from 9 Severus
Road on the 31st December.
(I am indebted to the Report of the Medical Officer of
Health of the County of London for the above information.)
All three cases notified in Battersea recovered.