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vaccination. It is a matter for regret in this, as in most
communities, that so many persons, particularly amongst
the poor, fail, until too late, to avail themselves of the protective
influence of vaccination, when, with so little
trouble, and without any expense to themselves, parents
may secure for their families comparative immunity from
one of the most loathsome diseases that can befall humanity.
Hopes, however, may still be entertained that the legislature
will not leave the so-called " Compulsory Vaccination
Act" much longer in the unsatisfactory state in which it is
found at present.
mortality amongst children and aged persons.
The infant mortality has necessarily been much greater
during the past year than during 1862, by reason of the
unusual prevalence of zymotic diseases, the greatest
number of which are well known to attack children almost
exclusively. No fewer than 66 children under 10 years of
age appear by the Table of Mortality to have succumbed to
disease, accidents, &c., during the past year, against 16 in
the previous one, which is by no means a satisfactory
occurrence to place on record, and would be more lamentable
were it not for the fact of every parish in the district
having, in common with the whole country, suffered unusually
from zymotic maladies. The deaths amongst the
aged numbered one more than in 1862, viz., 13, seven of
which were of persons over 80 years, and six verging closely
upon that age.
sickness and mortality amongst the union poor.
A reference to Table V., Appendix, will show a much
more satisfactory condition of the public health of this sub-