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its adventitious and accidental ingress, sudden deaths
would occur instead of being preceded by prolonged
illness; indeed, doubtless many mysterious sudden deaths
are attributable to this cause.
These conditions, if they cannot be completely remedied,
can, by earnest efforts, be largely ameliorated
without injury to the interests of any and with great
benefit to all.
I am fully conscious of the difficulties in the way of a
speedy and perfect remedy for these evils, but seeing
that they are literally the cause of so much disease and
death, I think we ought, so far as we may reasonably
be expected, endeavour to mitigate them, and to this
end we can do much. Legislation would be the most
effectual, as it would be the most just means for dealing
with a large question like this, and which it would be
impossible for individuals to meet with more than
partial success; moreover it is a condition for which
they are not wholly responsible. It is impossible for
an officer of health to ensure success for the means he
employs to promote the health of a community under
his charge, with such enemies as overcrowded and unhealthy
dwellings to contend against, unless some means
for the amelioration of such evils are within his reach;
but I repeat that with earnest and sincere efforts, we
can, even with the inadequate means now at our disposal,
do much to mitigate the dangers of such conditions.
Small-pox and Vaccination.
In common with the rest of the Metropolis, indeed
with the whole country, small-pox has been epidemic
in the Hamlet, but has now almost entirely abated.