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20 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
cases and the previous groups was never established definitely,
but certain facts were discovered which suggest that infection
was spread by unrecognised cases among Boy Scouts and Cubs.
There was also a possible link between Eardley Road and
Sunnyhill Road Schools by means of a Class in Carpentery
which met at the latter school and took scholars from several
schools. There were 15 cases in this group, and in addition,
a number of children residing in Lambeth who also attended
Sunnyhill Road School, developed Small-pox.
During June and July, cases occurred among the scholars
at the Ensham Central School, Tooting. Children attending
this school had friends at Sunnyhill Road School, and it is
probable that infection was spread in this manner. The number
of cases in this group was 12.
The last case was a resident in Fairfield Ward who was
removed to Hospital on the 28th July. The source of infection
was not traced and no connection with the other cases was
established.
All possible steps were taken as each case occurred to
prevent the spread of infection. The patients in the Springfield
Mental Hospital were isolated in the isolation block in the
grounds of the Hospital, and all the cases in private houses
were removed to one of the Special Hospitals of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board. Thorough disinfection was carried out
after each case.
Certain special measures were also taken with the object
of localising the epidemic.
As soon as cases were notified from private houses I
informed all the doctors practising in the Borough that cases
of Small-pox were occurring, and asked them to inform me
of any suspicious cases coming to their notice.
When the disease is of a mild type, as it was in this
epidemic, infected articles of clothing are often sent to laundries
before the nature of the disease is recognised, and infection
may easily be spread to laundry workers in this manner. I