ZYMOSIS 91 



14th November, 1893. 



To the 



Secretary of the Local Government Board. 



SIR, 



IN continuation of my report of date October 4th, relative 

 to an outbreak of "Choleraic Diarrhoea" at Low Moor, North 

 Bierley, I have further to report, that the outbreak seems now to 

 be at an end no case having occurred since the death of Mrs. 

 Law, Morley Carr, on the gth of October. 



Altogether, six cases of the disease occurred, and six deaths 

 the names of the victims being as follows : Edmund Wood, 

 aged 20 years ; Mary Wood, about 42 ; John Wood, 42 ; Jane 

 Stocks, 39 ; Mrs. Lockwood, and Betty Law, 71 the first three 

 were son, mother, and father, the next two were sisters of Mary 

 Wood, and the last was a neighbour, who assisted in nursing. 



In arriving at a solution of the etiology of the outbreak, I have 

 been unable to trace to any Asiatic source, or to contaminated 

 water, milk, or food supply, neither have I been able to make out 

 its connection with any preceding cases of the disease. I have, 

 therefore, been led to believe that there has been something like 

 "cause and effect" in the following circumstances: I am informed 

 that Edmund Wood, the first to be affected, was the subject of 

 "Chronic Diarrhoea," or what his friends called "consumption of 

 the bowels," and that he sought relief for this in a " change of air " 

 to Southport. On leaving he took with him (and this seems to be 

 the point of origin) a quantity of napkins, or diapers, to prevent the 

 accidental soiling of his clothes, or of the bedding in the lodgings 

 to which he resorted. 



These napkins, or diapers, when they became soiled, instead of 

 being destroyed, were returned to the box from which they had 

 been taken, and brought home with him on his return meanwhile 

 the contents of the box were no doubt the scene of the growth, or 

 "culture" of organisms (comma-bacillus)^ which simply required a 

 suitable soil in which to develop and perpetuate themselves, and 

 this was supplied by the lad himself and his immediate relatives, 

 whose office it was to wait upon him. 



The opening of this box, thus, seems to have originated the 

 outbreak, and appears to demonstrate that our own country can 

 grow a " materies morbi " as lethal and destructive as any that can 

 be bred in Asia. 



I am, Sir, 

 Your obedient servant, 



(Sd.) THOMAS LOGAN. 



