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19
"0—5," the rates for this disease, where increased,
were not in excess of the maxima of previous years.
There was a satisfactory reduction in the diphtheria
rates generally.

The Parish has been free from this disease for over
two years past. It is impossible to say how many of
the 35 cases recorded in London were genuine smallpox,
probably less than half. The Report of the
Asylums Board shows that 83.3 per cent. of the cases
sent to hospital in 1898 were erroneously diagnosed.
The continued exemption from smallpox taken in
connection with the increased neglect of vaccination,
cannot be used as an argument for the theory that
sanitation without vaccination will successfully secure
the community from this disease. That doctrine
was taught and practised at Gloucester, with results
disastrous alike to the City and its citizens. Unfortunately
the discredit which fell on its exponents during
• All rates, except where otherwise stated, are calculated per 1,000
persons of all ages,
† O.OO indicates a rate under 0.01.