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was fatal to 5.998 persons in the Metropolis. The annual rate of
mortality from this cause was 1.7 per 1,000 in Kensington (1.8 per
1,000 in the Metropolis generally). At the close of the year, the malady
decreased with rapidity, and the place it had so long filled in the mortality
tables became occupied by Small-pox, an epidemic of which then
set in—not without warning—with almost unexampled violence, and has
continued with nearly unabated severity to the present time. The
present report scarcely furnishes the proper occasion for any special
reference to the epidemic in question; but a few words on the subject
of the preventive remedy, Vaccination, may not be out of place. I
regret it is not in my power to speak, in altogether favourable terms, of
the state of the infant population of the Parish in respect of Vaccination.
The registered births in 1870 were 3705. The successful cases
of vaccination registered were only 2,341, including 32 children born
out of the Parish. There were, therefore, some 1,364 cases of apparent
non-compliance with the provisions of the law, a number equal to 37
per cent. of all the births. True, six hundred and four children
died under one year of age; but if we assume—a most improbable
assumption— that none of these were vaccinated, a very large
number (760) would still remain to be accounted for.
After a careful consideration of the whole question, and with considerable
experience acquired during the existing epidemic, I think it
may be fairly assumed that 25 per cent. of the children born in the
parish last year and up to the time of the appointment of the present
vaccination officer, were deprived of the benefits of Vaccination. And
if this estimate is at all within the mark, we have no cause to be surprised
at the prevalence of Small-pox; but, having regard to the amount of
material the epidemic has had to work upon, much reason for thankfulness
that our case has not been far worse! The recently published
Report of the Vaccination Officer for the first half of the current year,
throws some light upon the subject; and I therefore reproduce the