SMALLPOX IN ENGLAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11690, 25 February 1902, Page 4

SMALLPOX IN ENGLAND.

On January 6th 55 fresh cases of smallpox were registered in London, this being the largest number recorded in one day since the outbreak. The resources of the Metropolitan Asvlurns Board were severely taxed, in so far as obtaining ambulances tr, convev the sufferers from their respective hemes to the various shelters. There were at that date 781 patients under treatment. The Hospitals Committee of the Beard decided to proceed immediately with the building of a hospital at Longridge in the neighbourhood of that already existing at a ccst of considerably over £IOO,000.° It was expected that the hospital would be ready to receive patients in two months" time. The Board also decided to build an ambulance station at West Fulhani to cost £26,000. The Middlesex Council summoned a conference of local nPodies, to he held on January 21st, to consider the establishment of a County Smallpox Hospital. The Anti-Vaccination League assert that among 205 fatal cases notified to the Re-gistrar-General between August 3rd and December 21st of last year, 104 were those of vaccinated persons, seventy-one of unvaccinated patients, and in regard to the remaining tweuty-eight there was no statement.

A report having gained currency that smallpox had broken out among the troops at Aldershot, emphatic orders were issued on January 9th for the careful examination of all barracks and habitations, and the medical staff was augmented, in view of the increased number of recruits reaching the garrison from, all parts of the country. One case was found in Aidershot town, and the man was promptly isolated in the infectious ward by the town authorities. This case was directly proved to have gone from the metropolis. The man had no connection with the Army, and had not been near any of the camps. Both the town and military authorities offered every facility and inducement for civilians and soldiers alike to be vaccinated, and many hundreds of both classes readily submitted themselves.

Eight cases of smallpox are reported at Ystalyfera. an industrial village near Swansea, all of which were distinctly traceable to London. It appears that a young woman employed in a London drapery establishment was taken ill on December

15th, and seen by a medical man sent by her employer on the 17th. A' rash appeared on the 18th. The medical man said it was 3f no consequence. On the 19th he told her she was fit to travel, but from that day to the 22nd she was ia a room in< London, where she was allowed to see several people. On the 23rd she travelled to Swansea by rail, and then io Ystalyfera. It was not until January 3rd that* a notification was received from the Beihnal-green authorities that the person had beer, in contact with infected perscns. and in the meantime she had mixed freely with friends at Ystalyfera. It was feared the area of infection willstill largely extend.