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10
Notification of Diseases—88.
Small-pox
Ten eases of Small-pox were notified. Seven cases
occurred in West Thurrock (4 in one house, "Modified"
cases, and treated at home). The cause of infection could not
be traced, but probably one was caught on August Bank
Holiday; one case occurred at Aveley, infection unknown;
one at Chadwell-St -Mary, Tilbury Docks; one at Stanfordle-Hope,
sister of one case at West Thurrock, no doubt
infected through visiting her brother before it was known
what he was suffering from.
Scarlet Fever
There were 26 cases of Scarlet Fever notified, and one
death. Seven of the cases were at the Thurrocks; 14 at
Chad well-St.-Mary, nine round the Docks, and five on the
uplands all in one house, and the question arose whether or
not the infection had been conveyed by a letter from a
pa,tient in the Fever Hospital, which was received
by a girl who developed Scarlet Fever three days after, and
the infection spread to four other children in the same family.
Diphtheria
There were 13 cases of Diphtheria notified, and two
deaths. Eight were at the Thurrocks; five at Chadwell-St.Mary,
three) at the Docks. Two children were sent home
from boarding school in consequence of an outbreak. Two
other cases of children, from South Stifford, on a visit to their
grandmother, and one taken ill the second day of the visit.
Membranous
Croup
There were four cases of Membranous Croup, and one
death, all in the Thurrocks. The cases of Diphtheria and
Membranous Croup did not support the theory that these
diseases are propagated almost entirely by school contact,
many of the cases being too young to be sent to school.
Typhoid Fever
There were 14 cases of Typhoid Fever notified, and three
deaths. Two cases at West Thurrock, one a boy from the
training ship "Cornwall," and one an officer in Purfleet
Barracks, probably had the disease on him when he came
there. One at Aveley, and one at West Tilbury. No cause
could be found at either place. Six cases at Stanford-le-Hope
in two families, relations, and living side by side in semidetached
villas. The first case was a lad from a manure
barge, who said the water tasted of the manure. The drains
Avere in good order and the water chemically good, but the
privies were within five yards of the back doors, and the cesspits
as many from the well. The cesspits were well cemented
and appeared sound, but some cement had been broken up
to get to repair the pump, and it was thought possible some
contamination to the water had occurred through slop-water
being thrown down before the nature of the disease was