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of 42 Deaths, yet, that taking into consideration the increase
of population, the Deaths are 70 less than the average of the
previous 10 years.
Such increase, however, renders a searching examination
necessary for the purpose, if possible, of accounting for and
probably preventing a repetition of such numbers.
An examination of the causes of Death shows, that whereas
in 1859 there were 13 Deaths from accident, in 18G0 there
were 25: that in 1859 there was 1 Death from Small Pox, in
1860, 19 Deaths: that in 1859 the Deaths above 60 were 51,
whereas in 1860 they were 70:—these are sufficient to account
for more than the difference between the two years. If the
examination is carried still further, we shall find that while
there are 26 less Deaths from Scarlet Fever, there are 9 more
as attributable to Measles, Hooping Cough, and Fever; wo
may hence conclude that the increase is mainly attributable to
the Deaths from Small Pox, and the excess of accidents and
Deaths above 60 years of age.
With such evidence it becomes necessary to adopt active
measures to endeavour to stay such an increase in Deaths arising
from a preventable cause, and hence all those Schools, in which
consent could be obtained for an examination of the pupils,
have been visited, and the arms of the different children
examined for the purpose of detecting both imperfect vaccination,
and those instances where the protective power of
vaccination had been neglected. And with the kind co-operation
of your several Vaccinators, I am enabled to inform you,
that the arms of 1,213 children have been examined, and that
of this number, 163 were found to be unprotected; while in
many others the marks were so faint as to require a repetition
of vaccinaton. Although neglect of vaccination must be
considered the main cause of the disease, yet its rapid propagation
is mainly due to the serious over-crowding that exists
in the habitations of the poor, and 1 again urge upon the
members of the Board the necessity (as the Local Management
Act is about to be recognized) of their immediately