Dr. F. St. George Mivart's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever at King's Lynn / [F. St. George Mivart].

  • Mivart, F. St. George.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. F. St. George Mivart's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever at King's Lynn / [F. St. George Mivart]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    OFFICIAL COPY. Dr. F. St. George Mivart’s Report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of Enteric Fever at King’s Lynn. Richard T. Thorne, Medical Officer, January 18th, 1898. On the 20th of October, 1897, Mr. S. M. W. Wilson, Medical Officer of Health for the Borough of King’s Lynn, reported to the Board that enteric fever had broken out in the Borough. He stated that since the 1st of October 22 cases had occurred, with two deaths. Three days later Dr. C. B. Plowright, . Medical Officer of Health for the Rural District of Freebridge Lynn, reported an outbreak of enteric fever in the village of Gay wood, which is con¬ tinuous with the Borough of King’s Lynn. In Gaywood seven cases had so far occurred. In consequence of these communications, the Board requested that the Town Council of King’s Lynn would instruct their Medical Officer of Health to prepare a detailed report upon the subject of the fever there. This further report was received by the Board on the 25th of October, 1897, and as it appeared that the number of attacks had amounted to 114, and that the outbreak was extending, I was instructed to forthwith visit the Borough in order to inquire into the circumstances with which the disease was associated. At the same time I was to make similar inquiries respecting the outbreak in the village of Gay wood. In June, 1892, Dr. Bruce Low investigated an extensive outbreak of enteric fever in the Borough of King’s Lynn and the neighbouring village of Gaywood. He reported that from January to June, 1892, 135 recognized cases of that disease had occurred in the town and suburb, with 15 deaths ; and that the fever had been undoubtedly disseminated by means of the King’s Lynn public water service, which was common to both places. He advised that until a pure supply of drinking water had been obtained, the inhabitants should boil the water before using the same for drinking purposes. Since the date of Dr. Low’s report in no single year have both King’s Lynn and Gaywood been free from enteric fever, as is indicated by the following table :— 1892. ’ 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. Fever cases. Fever deaths. Fever cases. Fever deaths. Fever cases. Fever deaths. Fever cases. Fever deaths. Fever cases. i Fever deaths. Borough of Lynn (Population*) 18,360 131 19 50 3 34 4 27 4 26 6 Parish of Gaywood (Population*) 952 14 1 2 0 Q a 0 0 0 1 0 * 1891 Census. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE, By DARLING & SON, Ltd., 1-3, Great St. Thomas Apostle, E.C. And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, E.C.; or JOHN MENZIES & Co., 12, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, and 90, West Nile Street, Glasgow ; or HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., Limited, 104, Grafton Street, Dublin. 1598. Price Threepence. * ’ ■ ' ME JtY collection* +P No. 123. 15249—500—12/97 Wt 18«08 D & S 19