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times, and that the greatest diminution in the Small Pox mortality is
found in the early years of life in which there is most vaccination. In
countries where there is much vaccination and re-vaccination relatively
to the population there is little Small Pox. Small Pox attacks a much
greater proportion of the unvaccinated than of the vaccinated. In
houses invaded by Small Pox in the course of an outbreak not nearly so
many of the vaccinated inmates are attacked as of the unvaccinated in
proportion to their numbers, and the death rate among persons attacked
by Small Pox is much greater, age for age, among the unvaccinated
than among the vaccinated. The danger incurred by vaccination is
trifling, and, as regards other objections, these can be met by the use
of calf lymph, which is now available to boards of guardians and
medical men for the vaccination of infants and others.
Diarrhoea.—This disease caused 30 deaths, an excess of 13 over the
previous year. Diarrhoea is always more prevalent in hot, dry summers
No less than 4,089 deaths occurred from this cause in London during
1897, and equal to a rate of 0*92. This is the highest rate recorded in
any year since 1887, and is considerably in excess of the average rate
in the preceding ten years.
Influenza was the assigned cause of 19 deaths, the disease being
fatal in the early and latter part of the year.
Erysipelas.—Thirty-seven cases of this disease were notified, against
61 for the preceding year, and three deaths were attributed to this
cause.
Notification of Infectious Diseases.—The total number of certificates
received was 401, for notifying which the sum of £46 Is. 6d. was paid
to medical practitioners. This amount is recouped to the Yestry by the
Asylums Board out of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. The
total number of cases removed to fever hospitals for treatment was 164.
Local Diseases, so named after the systems or organs to which the
diseases relate, were accountable for 349 deaths. In this class diseases
of the respiratory organs alone caused 119 deaths, of which number
58 were due to Bronchitis, 37 to Pneumonia, 22 to Broncho-pneumonia,
2 to Pleurisy, 1 to Asthma, and 1 to Laryngitis. Diseases of the nervous