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56
It will be seen that Small-pox was fatal in 14 cases.
In 1875 only 2 cases were fatal, in the two preceding years
none, while in 1872 there were 14, and in 1871 (the epidemic
year) 94 deaths from Small-pox. Measles shows an
increase upon the previous exceptionally favorable year
(1875). Scarlatina was considerably less fatal during the
past than the two preceding years. Diarrhoea had a
lower fatality than any year since 1867 with the exception
of 1875. Diphtheria was fatal in no case, while Whooping
Cough maintained its average.
During 1876, 98 cases of Small-pox occurred in this
district, amongst the parochial poor alone. Fourteen cases
were fatal in the district, and of those which were removed
to various Hospitals, we can obtain no accurate account.
The fact that many cases had to be removed to distant
hospitals, because the authorities at Stockwell refused to
utilize the empty wards of the adjacent Fever hospital for
the reception of Small-pox cases, though entreated to do so,
was most prejudicial to most of the cases and fatal to some.
None of the cases I sent to hospital could afford to pay the
hospital fees (£4. 4s.) but belonged to the poorer class, a class,
moreover, which regards vaccination with dislike, and is most
likely to suffer from the epidemic by evading preventive
measures. No case of Small-pox occurred amongst those
who had been successfully vaccinated recently.
The following table, as of old, exhibits in a condensed
form all the important facts to be noted regarding the
mortality statistics of the district, and calls for no comment
save by way of comparison with the statistics of the previous
year.