Dr. Ballard's interim report to the Local Government Board on an inquiry at Middlesbrough and its neighbourhood, as to an epidemic of so called "pneumonia", but which was infact a specific "pleuro-pneumonic fever" / [Edward Ballard].

  • Ballard, Edward, 1820-1897.
Date:
1889
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Ballard's interim report to the Local Government Board on an inquiry at Middlesbrough and its neighbourhood, as to an epidemic of so called "pneumonia", but which was infact a specific "pleuro-pneumonic fever" / [Edward Ballard]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    time to time in the form of epidemics, although probably of smaller proportions: still its distinctly specific character has not hitherto been recognised. In this brief summary of the results of a prolonged investigation, I do not propose to enter fully into the etiology of the disease. The following statements may suffice for present practical use :— 1. The specific febrile disease thus described must be regarded as having been infectious, in the sense of being communicable from the sick to the healthy. Of this I shall be able to adduce the most conclusive evidence. This communication would seem to have occurred— . {a.) Through direct relation of individuals with each other; and it probably occurred also (b.) Through the medium of emanations from sewers, drains, &c., which had received into them the sputa or other excreta of the sick, or had •become infected in other ways. (c.) Through the medium of food which had become infected. [There is no evidence that it Was in Middlesbrough communicated through the medium of drinking water.] 2. Exposure to t£ slag dust ” was obviously not the primary cause of the malady. But among assisting causes of attack by the specific disease may be mentioned exposure to the inhalation of this and other kinds of trade-dust, and also exposure to chills or unusual bodily fatigue. 3. As is commonly observed with respect to other diseases of the same class as this, various local unwholesome conditions of lodgment and of the immediate surroundings of the population assisted in the spread, and probably also in the intensification of the malady. These are points which will be fully discussed in my detailed report. What I have written above will be sufficient, for the present, to guide the several Medical Officers of Health in the districts concerned in respect to the advice they should give to their several sanitary authorities for the preven¬ tion of a repetition of last year’s unfortunate occurrences; and to induce them to adopt, for their immediate purposes, precautions against the growth and spread of the infectious matter of the disease, just as they would adopt precautions against any other infectious disease which they regarded as capable of being conveyed through the air or by infection of sewers or of food. I may add that, before quitting Middlesbrough, I gave some general advice verbally to a Committee of the Town Council as to requisite local improve¬ ments and amendments in their sanitary administration, and left with the Town Clerk a memorandum of this advice. January, 1889. EDWARD BALLARD.