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105
between Woolwich and the parishes of St. John and St. Nicholas,
it seems not unlikely that the inhabitants of these parishes
suffered chiefly on account of meeting tramps in Plumstead Road
and High Street, this disease being easily caught in that way.
Some of the cases were distinctly traced to visits to Woolwich
and other places where Small Pox was prevalent.
4. It is noteworthy that only two of the cases notified were
under five years of age, and both these unvaccinated. As children
are found to suffer more than adults in countries where
vaccination does not prevail, this fact is a proof of the complete
temporary efficacy of vaccination, and of the effectual manner in
which the Plumstead population is vaccinated. This latter fact
is also shewn by Table XII, for which I am indebted to Mr. C.
Jolly, the vaccination officer.
5. The Plumstead Committee decided on my advice to
publish bills recommending re-vaccination, but the Board at
Charlton vetoed the recommendation. If all the population had
been re-vaccinated there would have been no Small Pox. There
is a widespread belief that disease is spread by vaccination ; but
it has been shewn by those who have experimented on themselves
that it is very difficult indeed to cause disease in this way.
Unfortunately many children inherit disease from their parents,
and in such cases the compulsory vaccination is a convenient
scape goat.
Scarlet Fever.
6. There were 527 cases compared with 584 and 61 in the
two preceding years. The epidemic of 1892 continued but with
abated force. The disease was general over all the district,
affecting St. James' and All Saints' parishes more than last year