On the spread of small-pox occasioned by small-pox hospitals during the epidemic period, 1900-1904 ; and its relation to atmospheric convection / by G.S. Buchanan.

  • Buchanan, George Seaton, Sir, 1869-1936.
Date:
1905
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: On the spread of small-pox occasioned by small-pox hospitals during the epidemic period, 1900-1904 ; and its relation to atmospheric convection / by G.S. Buchanan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    cular to the assumptions needed before graduation can be explained) will be gathered from the observations of Dr. McVail, Dr. Niven, Dr. Bulstrode, and others, as also from my Paper. Nothing would be gained by their re- capitulation, though I may perhaps draw special attention to the point raised by Dr. Niven, that these explanations involve an assumption of infectivity of contacts, which is contrary to usual experience. It is desirable, however, that I should comment on Dr. Newsholme's contention in regard to the Orsett outbreak and the M. A. B. Hospital Ships, and incidentally this will illustrate some of the difficulties which arise in adopt- ing his alternative theory. First, on certain questions of fact. My inquiries in Purlleet and the Orsett Union began at a time when no more than nine cases of small-pox had occurred in Purfleet. They were continued at frequent intervals throughout the epidemic. During the whole period, I was in touch with the medical practitioner who attended practically all sick persons in the village, with the Medical Officer of Health, Inspector of Nuisances, and others, who made frequent visits to the place, and I made numerous house-to-house inquiries. As a fact, I did, with the assistance of Dr. Corbett and others, make very careful inquiry as to importation of infection from other parts of Essex or from London—and this not only in regard of the first cases in Purfleet, but also as to other cases occurring later on during the epidemic. Then, as to the alleged surreptitious visits to Purfleet of members of the staff of the Hospital Ships. Lest Dr. Newsholme's remark that a considerable body of independent evidence exists that such communications took place should be applied to the epidemic of 1901-2, it is well that I should be definite. From first to last, frem the beginning to the end of my local inquiries, after the publication of my Beport, after subsequent correspondence, after reading the evidence given by Dr. Thresh, Dr. Newsholme, Dr. Colling- ridoe and others in the Nottingham case, where this outbreak was made the subject of prolonged examination and cross-examination, and at the present day, the only suo-o-estion of such visit known to me is that referred to by Dr. Thresh (Epidem. Soc. Trans., vol. xxi., p. 103): I am convinced that the Asylums Board have fulfilled their promise, and that there has been no personal commu- nication between the ships and the County of Essex—save, probably, the surreptitious visit of a man to his sweetheart The only case of this kind I can hear of has been denied by the parties concerned. There was no allegation here that small-pox in Purfleet resulted from this visit.