HC Deb 18 March 1920 vol 126 cc2405-6W
Mr. R. YOUNG

asked the Minister of Health whether an attempt has been made to burn down Bells Wharf, at Bromley-by-Bow, by persons unknown; whether the apparent reason for this attempt was the retention on these premises of goods believed to contain small-pox infection; whether nothing has been done to remove these goods for destruction since the outbreak of smallpox there, which occurred three weeks ago; whether persons who have been in direct contact with small-pox infection have not been isolated, but allowed to go about freely and mix with the community generally; whether some of these contacts have since developed small-pox; whether houses in which small-pox cases have occurred have not been thoroughly cleansed by the stripping of walls and lime-whiting, as in previous outbreaks; and what action does he propose to take to compel the local authority to do everything within its power to prevent the spread of this disease?

Dr. ADDISON

I have no information as to the first two parts of the question, but I am informed that the goods referred to are now being removed from the wharf. I understand that, in accordance with the usual modern practice, persons who are known to have been in recent contact with others who have since developed small-pox are offered free vaccination and are bathed and their clothes disinfected, and they are kept under daily observation by the medical officers of the Borough Council for a period of 16 days. I am advised that as a general rule the incubation period of the disease is 12 days, and that during that period the infection of the disease is not spread, but that should any person under medical observation exhibit symptoms of illness he would at once be isolated. The answer to the fifth part of the question is in the affirmative, but I should point out that of the five contacts who have developed small-pox three refused vaccination. I am advised that the method of disinfection of houses which has been adopted in Poplar is considered satisfactory, and that the local authority are doing everything within their power to prevent the spread of the disease.