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172
The deaths shown by the table in the last of these years are
not those which occurred in the hospitals during that year, but the
deaths of patients who, during that year, were admitted to the
hospitals. This does not, however, detract from the importance
of the figures as evidence of the great increase in the proportion
of Small-Pox cases treated in the hospitals.
The Royal Commission, to which we have referred, in their
Report made in July, 1882, contrasted the amount of Small-Pox
in London with that which had occurred in England generally.
It will be well to bring such a comparison down to the present
time and to notice the features which it presents.
The following table affords a comparison between the
mortality in London and that in England and Wales with the
metropolis excluded, the deaths being those from Small-Pox to
every 100,000 living. The figures are taken for the five years
1838-2, and from 1847 onwards in decennial periods, the figures
for the years 1843-6 not being procurable.
-
Mean annual Deaths from SmallPox
to every 100,000 living.
England & Wales,
excluding London.
London.
1838-42 545 77.1
1847-56 236 34.6
1857-66 200 26.8
1867-76 22.5 41.9
1877-86 3.3 274
It will be seen that during the second and third periods, there
was a great reduction of mortality both in England, excluding the
metropolis, and in London; though it must be remembered that
1838-42 includes 1838, in which there was a considerable epidemic.
The great epidemic wave of Small-Pox which swept over the