§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the dates of the development of the smallpox rash or chickenpox rash in any cases mistakenly believed to be chickenpox, in the cases diagnosed as smallpox during the recent outbreak at Edinburgh; and the dates of their removal to hospital?
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Mr. JohnstonThe only smallpox case in the Edinburgh outbreak which was originally diagnosed a chickenpox was the first case discovered in the Royal Infirmary. The rash appeared on 27th October and the patient was removed to the City Fever Hospital next day.
§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the four fatal cases of smallpox in Edinburgh and district had been patients in a medical institution or an associated convalescent home before they contracted smallpox?
Mr. JohnstonThere have been six deaths from smallpox since the present outbreak started in Edinbrugh. The first four of these had been patients in a medical institution or associated convalescent home in Edinburgh on the probable date of infection. The two other patients had no connection with the institution or home.
§ Mr. A. Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the first case of smallpox at Edinburgh was taken to the Royal Infirmary suffering from some other illness and the supposed chicken-pox attack developed afterwards, or whether the patient was taken to the Royal Infirmary as a case of chicken-pox?
Mr. JohnstonThe first case of smallpox in Edinburgh was in the Royal Infirmary for another illness when an illnes developed which was at first thought to be chickenpox. As infectious disease is not treated in the Royal Infirmary, he was removed to the City Fever Hospital, where after examination he was diagnosed as a case of smallpox.