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23
NOTES ON CERTAIN INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Small-pox.—The infection of small-pox was twice imported
into the district, and, happily, by the prompt measures superintended
by Dr. Jackman, who was Acting Medical Officer of Health
at the time, the disease was at once eradicated. These 2 cases,
like each of the many others that I have from time to time
investigated, testified to the value of vaccination—a value which
anyone, whose actual experience qualifies him to judge, has never
questioned. It was the old story! one patient, who had not been
vaccinated, suffered from a severe attack, and in the other, who had
been vaccinated, the attack was remarkably mild. Had not 20
years elapsed subsequent to vaccination, the latter patient would,
in all probability, have escaped the attack altogether. Efficient
vaccination is a duty which we owe, not only to ourselves, but—
more especially when we live in the midst of crowded communities
—to others also, and in my opinion some of the grievous harm of
anti-vaccination literature should be met by setting forth some of
the facts in support of vaccination (and they are convincing enough !)
on a small printed slip, which might be given to parents at the
same time as the vaccination notice is sent by the vaccination
officer. In many respects it would be advantageous if the
administration of vaccination were under the Sanitary Authority,
rather than remaining under the Poor Law.
Scarlet Fever.—During the year 1894 there was everywhere
a marked falling off in the number of cases of scarlet fever, but the
experience of Stoke Newington in this respect was exceptional
among Metropolitan parishes. It will be noted (Table B 1) that
during the year the illness from this disease in Stoke Newington
was but a trifle over a quarter of that of the previous year (i.e., as
91 is to 354). Bearing in mind the universally recognised fact
that this disease is yearly growing milder, it is singular that, with
the remarkable diminution in the number of cases, the mortality
from the disease should be the same as that of the previous year.