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80
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
GENERAL.—All homes are visited by a Sanitary Inspector and an
Enquiry Officer, who arranges for isolation or Hospital treatment, and
investigates the possible source of infection, and deals with the schools
and contacts.
The year 1928 was not a good one in Southwark as regards Infectious
Disease, for in addition to an outbreak of Smallpox in which 19 people
were attacked, with one death, there was a considerable rise in incidence
and mortality from Measles and Scarlet Fever, likewise Summer Diarrhœa.
Diphtheria the most prevalent disease in the district showed a
slight decline.
Southwark is so situated as to be peculiarly liable to have infectious
disease brought into the Borough, as tramway and omnibus services
from all the suburbs or crowded districts have to pass through it, converging
to the Elephant and Castle, before again diverging to cross the
various bridges in order to reach their ultimate destination.
Again a very large proportion of our poorer inhabitants go annually
to the hop fields, where they frequently contract some infectious complaint.
Further information as to the prevalence of infectious diseases will
be found under each heading.
SMALLPOX.
There were 19 cases of Smallpox notified during 1928. A small
outbreak of this disease occurred in the early part of the year which
apparently broke out in the wards of Southwark Hospital. As a result
19 cases were notified with one death, the type was mild on the whole.
Eight cases directly occurred in Southwark Hospital and a cleaner from
the hospital spread the disease in Chaucer House, Tabard Street, 5 cases
being notified from these buildings. Two cases occurred in Rowton
House, one in Newington Institution, and one in St. Olave ChambersOne
contracted the disease while hopping, and the cause of the other was
untraced.
All infected premises were disinfected and vaccination offered to
all contacts.
The epidemic died down during the summer months.
SCARLET FEVER.
It will be seen by the accompanying table that Scarlet Fever was
more prevalent in our district during the year under consideration than
since 1925. 133 more cases being notified.
The Dick Test has not been utilised.