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and 80 cases of illness from Small-pox, occurred during
the year, every one of which might possibly have been
prevented by timely vaccination. Two only of the seven
deaths, it is satisfactory to find, occurred in the families of
the parish poor, the remaining five falling upon the middle
and more wealthy classes, a circumstance which seems to
show that the very poor of this parish have not been the
most prejudiced against vaccination. I still think a total
misapprehension of the provisions of the existing Vaccination
Extension Acts, by large numbers of the well-to-do
classes, is at the bottom of much of the indifference displayed
towards this valuable protection, when it is offered
at the hands of the public vaccinators. The very word
"Extension," used in the titles of the Acts, implies that
it was the main object of the Legislature to confer the
benefits of these measures, and to insure the due registration
of the operation, beyond the mere pauper; and yet
how few seem to view the existing Acts as having a
general application.
The first Act upon the subject of vaccination (3 & 4
Vic., c. 29,) was called, "An Act to extend the practice of
vaccination the second Act (4 & 5 Vic., c. 32,) was
termed," An Act to amend an Act to extend the practice
of vaccination and the third and last Act (16 and 17
Vic., c. 100,) was, beyond all the others, passed with the
object referred to, inasmuch as in the preamble we find
the following words: "And whereas it is expedient
that the practice of vaccination should be still further
extended." In the face of all this it is extraordinary
that any one should be found contending that public
vaccination means only the vaccination of the pauper.
That many do so contend is well known to every public
vaccinator. An amended Act, and one less liable to be
misunderstood and evaded, is the only remedy that
suggests itself for this great evil.
accidental, violent, and sudden deaths.
As many as 23 inquests were held in this Sub-district
during the year; of this number 9 were held to inquire