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10
Table enables us to take is in almost every instance
reassuring. Measles shows a great decrease upon last
year, and is about the average. Scarlatina is greatly
under the average intensity; Croup and Whooping Cough
somewhat less than the average. The fevers constitute
the only instance of increased fatality. Diarrhœa has not
been so mild since 1867. Still we have, as already
mentioned, suffered, and that severely, from a more serious
epidemic than any yet named. We refer of course to Small
Pox, which carried off 57 persons—a number exceeded by
only one year, 1871—in the District. It is necessary to
emphasize the last three words, because, large as this
number ought to be considered, when we remember that
the disease has been combated by every possible agency—
even by Act of Parliament itself—it by no means represents
the total mortality. We have no means of finding out the
number of fatal cases in hospital which were taken from
the District, but that is of less importance to us than the
fact, that 57 persons died in their own homes, amidst
friends and neighbours, too many of whom were probably
susceptible to the deadly infection. So large a number of
cases should not have been left without proper isolation,
and we have the very inadequate hospital accommodation
which then existed to blame for it. This want has now
happily been supplied, so that we are prepared for
another epidemic, as far as isolation goes. A great
want is still felt, however, of Middle-class Hospitals, or
the sub-division of existing hospitals, according to the
class to which the patient belongs. Until such a
requirement is fulfilled, we cannot expect the better
classes to submit to removal. But, after all, a
Hospital for Small Pox should be unnecessary to the
community. There is no more indisputable fact than that
Vaccination is an almost certain preventative of Small Pox.
We do not mean merely primary Vaccination as enforced,
though still too laxly, by law, but re-vaccination. Surely
the time has come, when enlightened public opinion will
submit to legal re-vaccination of all adults. Instead of
lightening the penalties laid upon the erratic people, who