View report page

2
The largest weekly number of fresh cases, viz. 44, was registered in the
week ending January 28th. This number corresponds with the weekly
maximum (public cases) attained in the last severe epidemic in 1863,
namely 43 cases. On that occasion the disease began to show an
epidemic tendency towards the end of November or beginning of
December, 1862, but did not attain its full epidemic proportions until
the months of April and May. The maximum was attained in the last
week of May, 1863. The fortnightly progress of the disease prior to
that date was as follows :—
Public Cases.
Fortnight ending Feb. 14th, 1863
,, „ 28th ,,
„ Mar. 14th ,,
„ 28th „
,, April 11th „
,, ,, 25 th „
„ May 9th „
„ „ 23rd „
13
15
12
18
34
13
52
79
We are, therefore, pretty nearly where we were at the height of the
epidemic in May, 1863. The prospect before us is certainly not
encouraging, experience showing that the early months of the year are
favourable to the continuance of the spread of this disease. I have no
returns of the cases occurring in the private practice of the district, but
I learn enough from private scources to satisfy me that Small-pox is
widely sown among all classes of the community; the upper classes,
however, are very generally protecting themselves by re-vaccination.
Since my last report was written, the Guardians have opened some
wards at the Old Workhouse for the reception of pauper cases. This
temporary Hospital was opened January 18th, and between this and the
28th, 31 cases were admitted for isolation and treatment. This
proceeding, together with the extension of the accommodation at Hampstead,
the establishment of local parochial hospitals elsewhere, and now
the opening of the Asylum Board's new hospitals at Homerton and
Stockwell, has so far liberated the Highgate hospital from pressure, that
I have had facilities for getting patients, who can afford to pay, into the
latter institution. Those I have sent, on the payment of 3 guineas,
have been at once received, and hence the necessity of resorting to the
establishment of wards for paying patients at the old workhouse, under
the permission obtained from the Vestry and Guardians respectively,
has been for the present avoided. For patients who cannot pay the
stipulated amount, accommodation is found by the Guardians.