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This fact speaks very suggestively of the great and lasting benefits to
be derived from increased exertions to carry sanitary improvements into
and about the dwelling-places of the poor.
Zymotic or Epidemic Diseases.
Table IV., in the Appendix, relating to the mortality from seven
principal forms of zymotic disease, furnishes the very gratifying fact that
but two persons succumbed during the past year to these maladies. The
reduction of the rate of mortality from zymotic diseases from 13 and
7 respectively in the two years 1856 and 1857, down to the minimum of
2 in 1860 (excluding the years 1858 and '59, for the reasons above
stated), gives very fair evidence of progress, and affords, as well, no bad
augury for the future sanitary prospects of this increasing sub-district.
In the Registrar General's annual table of " Deaths from Seven Zymotic
Diseases," the resulting mortality is recorded from returns received from
135 parishes, or sub-districts, within the bills of mortality, and yet, with
tho exception of Dulwich, which parish does not appear to have had any
deaths from epidemics in 1860, there is not one locality exhibiting so few
deaths, viz., 2, from the seven diseases referred to, as that of Putney.
The next lowest on the list is Eltham, in which parish with a population,
in 1851, less by upwards of 5000 than Putney, there were registered in
1860 five deaths from these same diseases. This fact speaks well for the
salubrity of this parish, and its comparative freedom from epidemic
influences.
Although several cases of small pox have occurred in the parish during
the past year, not one death, I am happy to state, resulted. I continue
to use my best exertions to bring as many as possible of the children of
all clases under vaccination. During the past year, although the births
in the sub-district numbered but 163, I successfully vaccinated 156 infants,
and a small number of more advanced life. I regret to say that all
my persuasions, added to the efforts of the clergy and district visitors,
have been in vain with some few obstinate parents amongst the poor,
whom no amount of reasoning could induce to submit their children to
the protective power of this safe and simple process. In the absence of
any provision in the Vaccination Act, securing to the public the advantages
of a prosecutor of its penal clause, it is most important that every
public school, at least, should insist upou properly certified vaccination
before admitting a child upon its establishment. I most cordially join
with my colleague, Mr. Nicholas, in the recommendation he so urgently
made in respect to this important matter in his last annual contribution
to the sanitary report.*
class throughout the kingdom—indeed, throughout Europe ; but excluding these years
that which renders the result of the comparison of the remaining three years with 184t
most satisfactory, is the fact of the labouring class having gradually lessened the distance
which fornjerly existed in the death scale between themselves and the classes
above them.
• It would be by no means an unreasonable provision to deprive all objecting public
educational institutions of the benefits of any grant of money by Government, and in
addition to insist upon the payment of all pool and other rates, from which they are now
exempt.