On artificial disinfection as a means of preventing the spread of infectious diseases / by J.H. Timins.

  • Timins, J. H.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On artificial disinfection as a means of preventing the spread of infectious diseases / by J.H. Timins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Thus, there was abundance of seed, with active hands to sow it, and a soil prepared to receive it. The prospects of the inhabitants of such a town, invaded at all points by scarlet fever, were not encouraging. But the case certainly afforded an exceptionally favorable opportunity for testing the value of a system of disinfection. The first known case was in the last cottage at the west end of West Field cottages at the bottom of Byarsh Lane. A. T—, aged 10 years was said to have been first ill on the 4th July. The case was a slight one, and there was no medical attendant. On the day following her sister, aged 12 years, was taken ill, and on the next, July 6th, J. B—, aged 8 years, residing next door, was attacked. From this rapid succession of cases it is probable that the first case of fever had commenced sooner than was supposed, and that the first symptoms were so slight as to have been overlooked until July 4th. On that day two children, F. Gf—, and another of the same age vomited in West Mailing Infant School, at the commencement of scarlet fever. The nature of the illness was not suspected until F. G— died of malig¬ nant scarlet fever on the 9th of July, and his sister, E. G—, of the same complaint on the 13th of July. A. G—, aged 4 years, became ill July 11th, but recovered. W. W—, who was much at the house, was attacked with malignant scarlet fever July 13th, and died on the 16th. The nurse was first called in after the death of F. G—, July 9th, by which time infection must have commenced in all the cases above mentioned, and from the following day, July 10th, until the 3rd of