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1416 in the two preceeding years. After distributing the hospital
cases, it appears that 93 of the 458 deceased smallpox patients in
1879 had resided in Greenwich, 80 in Camberwell, 52 in Southwark
and Newington. 39 in Fulham, 25 in Kensington, and 25 in
Wandsworth. The death rate from smallpox in London last year
was equal to 126 per million of the population, against an average
annual rate of 410 per million in the 42 years 1838-79. During
the 16 years 1838 —53 the death rate from smallpox in London
averaged 512 per million, whereas in the 26 years 1854—79, since,
the Compulsory Vaccination Act was passed, the annual rate has
not averaged more than 348 per million." Dr. Farr (who is
unquestionably the highest statistical authority on these points in
this country) has estimated that before the practice of inoculation
from 1629-1635 the deaths from smallpox in London per million
of the population were 1890. From the year 1660 —1679, the
deaths were 4170 per million. After the practice of inoculation
from 1728—1757, they were 4260, and between that period and
the end of last century 5020 per million. From 1801—10 (when
vaccination was partially practised) they were 2040, and from 1831
—35 they were 830 per million.
That there has been no abatement in the virulence of smallpox
itself is clearly shown by the fact that notwithstanding all the
sanitary improvements of modern times, the mortality from smallpox
in the unvaccinated is actually higher than it was during the
last century.
February 16th, 1880.
During the fortnight that ended on the 7th day of
February, 138 births and 148 deaths were registered in Bermondsey.
These numbers were equal to an annual birth rate of 35·9, and to
an annual rate of mortality of 38.5 per 1000. The death rate in
London for the same period was 39.7 per 1000.
To the seven principal diseases of the zymotic class 28 deaths
were referred, viz:—4 to scarlet fever, 22 to whooping cough, 1 to
enteric fever, and 1 to diarrhoea. The zymotic death rate was 7.3
per 1000 against a rate of 5.3 in London.
The excess is due to a sudden and large increase in the number
of deaths from whooping cough.