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The lessons which a comparison of these two columns teach us are:—1st. The
increase in liability to attack, which our population exhibited as age advanced with
them up to the age of 25 years, a liability most marked between the ages of 15 and
25 years, steadily lessening after the age of 25 years. If we had had to do with a
population entirely unvaccinated, we should have had a much larger proportion under
five years. Secondly. The extreme fatality of small-pox under five years of age,
its greatly lessened fatality when the attack takes place at an age increasing up to
15 years, and its increased fatality again as age advances from 15 to the end of life,
that is to say, as the weakening of the influence of early vaccination proceeds
with lapse of time, and the vital resistance to disease become impaired with advanced
age. Thirdly. The practical importance of renewing the protection of a primary
vaccination at the age of 15 or 16 years. Among the poor, re-vaccination is rarely if
ever sought, and no encouragement or facilities are afforded to its performance, and
yet its neglect is one of the most serious aids to the spread of an epidemic. It is
true that the male labouring population cannot afford the loss of time which it
would involve, and I do not see how they could be reached effectually. But it is
otherwise with the young women of the same class, who, living in service or being
occupied in light trades, would not suffer so much inconvenience: these might be
reached easily enough, and facilities might be given them by the appointment of a
time of day for re-vaccination, at which it would be convenient for them to attend at
the vaccinating station.
The circumstances under which the epidemic was brought to a close are worthy
of being noted. It did not terminate because the children of the parish had all been
well vaccinated, and the adults protected by re-vaccination; this protection had
nothing to do with it. It came to an end, as a result of climatic conditions of the
atmosphere. One of the results of my experience here, during twelve years, is that the
mean temperature of 52° marks off a condition of atmosphere which has a great
deal to do with the spread of small-pox, since a temperature below this favours its
extension, while a temperature higher than this tends to check it. Now the month
of July was one of very exceptional heat; the mean temperature of the third week
in July was 70 7 ; of the fourth 69 2°; of the first week in August 67.6, and of the
second 69.8°. It was this which apparently extinguished small-pox.
SANITARY WORK OF THE YEAR.
The mode in which the work of the Sanitary Department is now recorded by
Mr. ColliDgwood, enables me to furnish a more extended table than it has been my
custom to give of the inspections and visits made by our inspectors, and of the
improvements carried out upon premises under the direction of the Committee. I
need do no more than refer you to this table for any information desired upon this
subject, except to say, that we have continued the practice of carrying out any
necessary disinfections in poor houses ourselves and, I have reason to believe, with
the best results. With respect to the factories at Belle Isle, we have had complaints,
chiefly from one individual, of the nuisance arising from Fretwell's Manure Works,