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8
The great prevalence and fatality of Small Pox throughout
the country has, of late, immensely increased the demand
amongst a certain class for vaccination and re-vaccination.
Notwithstanding this there has occurred, within the last
few years in this District, a great many fatal cases of
Small Pox, in connexion with which it could be shown
that the sufferers had never been submitted to the protective
influence of the operation in question; whilst, on the
other hand, but very few deaths are found to have occurred
after this prophylactic has been properly applied, and on
the authority of a professional man been pronounced to
have taken effect.
The Parliamentary Committee on vaccination, which a
short time since reported the result of its deliberations,
appears to have been somewhat influenced by the evidence
of a few anti-vaccinationists, for without such influence it
can scarcely be imagined that such a suggestion would
have been made as—that the parents or guardians of unvaccinated
children should, after being adjudged to pay a
mere nominal penalty, be thenceforth free to suffer such
children to remain wholly unprotected! It is indeed hard
to believe that in Jenner's own country such a proposition
as this will ever receive the sanction of the Legislature, or
go unchallenged by the sensible portion of the public.
Rather let us hope that Parliament will not be tardy in
passing a measure that shall not only discourage unreasoning
obstinacy in respect to vaccination, but deal a decisive
blow at that foolish crusade against it which has of late
been productive of such serious mischief.
Mortality from Ordinary Diseases, Accidents, Old Age,
&c.—The Table No. I. Appendix, not only distinguishes the
ordinary from the Epidemic class of diseases, but clearly
points out those maladies of all classes which have proved
most fatal during the year. Although there were registered
266 deaths from all causes above the number tabulated in
1865, the average mortality of the past ten years, allowance
being made for increase of population, is not so much