Report on an outbreak of enteric fever in the county borough of Bournemouth and in the boroughs of Poole and Christchurch / by W. Vernon Shaw.

  • Shaw, W. Vernon (William Vernon), 1874-1937.
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on an outbreak of enteric fever in the county borough of Bournemouth and in the boroughs of Poole and Christchurch / by W. Vernon Shaw. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Two samples direct from the well. Sample received on Nov. 3rd. Colony count on agar at 37°C. 29 per 1 ml. Sample received on Nov. 3th. (After flooding). Colony count on agar at 37°C. 20 per 1 ml. Probable number of B. coli (strain isolated = Bad. coh Coli-readion. Absent .with each of 5 quantities of 10 ml. Coli-readion. Present in 1 out of 5 quantities of 10 ml. per 100 ml. — 2 faecal type 1). Attempts to isolate B. typhosus failed with both these waters. On bacteriological examination they would both be passed as free from dangerous contamination. APPENDIX 7. Action taken by the Town Councils. Foremost among the measures adopted to prevent spread of the disease was the removal of the patients to hospital, and the major problem which had to be faced was lack of accommodation. At the beginning of the outbreak it consisted of 70 patient-beds at the Bournemouth and 28 at the Poole Isolation Hospital. On 25th August, when the number of persons at risk had been approximately estimated, I advised the Chairman of the Health Committee of the Bournemouth Town Council that it would be necessary to make provision for at least 250 patients. With the co-operation of the Public Assistance Committee and the Board of Management of the Victoria Hospital, Bournemouth, additional accommodation was secured at Fairmile Infirmary and at the Poole Road branch of the Victoria Hospital. Even so it was found necessary to take over a large house, Haddon Hill, and convert it into a temporary hospital with the addition of two temporary ward blocks. The bed accommodation at the Poole Isolation Hospital was increased to 68; 49 beds were provided at the Fairmile Infirmary; 42 at the Poole Road branch of the Victoria Hospital; and 80 at Haddon Hill. The Medical Officer of Health of Poole promptly realised that an emergency of some magnitude had arisen and at a special meeting of the Health Committee on the 25th August he was given full power to do whatever he thought necessary and in this he had the hearty co-operation of his colleague, the Borough Engineer. Within a few days an old disused ward block at the Hospital was reconditioned and equipped, and by the end of a week a complete new block with proper sanitary accommodation had been erected, equipped, and put into service. This was speedily followed by two other similar blocks, and finally the total number of patient beds provided was 208 with a nursing staff of 68 and a domestic staff of 28. Pari passu with the erection of new ward blocks, additions had to be made to the administrative block for staff and enlarge¬ ment of the kitchen and scullery was also necessary. An operating theatre was provided, electric light was installed, and the requisite enlargement of the sewage disposal plant was carried out forthwith. At the commencement of the outbreak the Borough of Christchurch was dependent on accommodation provided by neighbouring authorities. Two patients from Christchurch were admitted to the Poole Isolation Hospital, and the remaining 27 were sent to the Salisbury Isolation Hospital. (41218—26) wt. 3678—1934 1500 5/37 P. St. G. 372