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10
Scarlet Fever
There were 90 cases of Scarlet Fever notified, and three
deaths. Thirteen of the cases were at the Thurrocks and
occurred at different times, six of the cases being in one house.
Six of the cases occurred at Aveley and Stifford with one
death; they all occurred at different times. Three of the
cases occurred at Tilbury Docks. 61 of the cases occurred at
South Ockendon and necessitated the schools being closed for
over two months ; there were two deaths. There bad been no
case in this district for some months before the outbreak, and
I am inclined to think it was introduced by some "holiday"
children, and that a school child took the disease in mild
form and was allowed to go to school while in an infectious
state. Closing the school had no effect in stopping the spread
of the disease. Most of the population is upon a small area
and the children were, in many instances, allowed to go out
and play with their neighbours while in an infectious state.
Two prosecutions were instituted and a conviction obtained
in one case.
Diphtheria
There were 11 cases of Diphtheria notified and two
deaths. Two of the cases were at Tilbury Docks, two at
Stifford, two at Orsett (one imported), one death. I sent
specimens of the secretion from the throat in both Orsett
oases to Dr. Thresh, and he pronounced the one a typical case
and the other not so well marked. Dr. Thresh sent me some
anti-toxin serum to inject, but unfortunately the one case
died two hours after the receipt of it, and in the other such
marked improvement had taken place that I did not use it.
Four of the cases were in the Ockendons and one death. In
that case I found the wooden lid of the tank in which the
South Essex Co.'s water was stored did not fit tight, and
there were quite bunches of dead earwigs, having a fungous
growth upon them; other tank lids were rotten. There was
also no provision made for cleaning out the tanks. I suggested,
in these cases, metal close-fitting lids to be made and
a large hole to be made in the bottom of the tanks, so that
they could be easily and thoroughly cleansed This was
done, In no other cases could I find a probable source of
infection.
Membranous
Croup
There was one case of Membraneous Croup notified at
West Thurrock.
Typhoid Fever
There were 15 cases of Typhoid Fever notified and two
deaths. Four of the cases were in the Thurrocks, two imported,
one from the training ship "Cornwall;" six at
Aveley—three in one house—the first case was thought to
have been imported, but on the second case occurring, it was
found that a large cesspit from an adjoining cottage