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deaths due to Small Pox registered throughout the District
in 1871 over the number recorded in the previous year's
Report, a much more favourable and satisfactory general
return would have now been presented. From the fact of
this malady extending itself over the whole kingdom, as
well as the continent, there is far more reason to apprehend
its long continuance than had its incidence been upon a
limited area. It will doubtless require great efforts to be
made, and some wiser laws in relation to epidemics than
those at present existing to be enacted, before any sensible
abatement of the malady can be looked for. If the influence
of the anti-vaccinationists is really not to be got
rid of, and a compulsory system of vaccination, beyond
the mere name of such, ensured, far better would it be
that the existing laws upon the subject be repealed, and
an entire reliance placed upon the good sense of the people
to eventually overcome the prejudices now fostered and
encouraged on the ridiculous plea of the operation of vaccination
being an interference with the "liberty of the
subject"-a mode of reasoning meaning, if it can have
any meaning attached to it, that Her Majesty's subjects
ought not to be deprived, by legal enactments, of the
liberty of putting the lives of any number of their fellow
subjects in jeopardy if they so will it, the Divine law which
enjoins consideration for the welfare of one's neighbours
being, of course, entirely ignored! Such are, substantially,
the views of most of the foolish opponents of Jenner's
great discovery, but more absurd reasoning it is diflicult
to conceive.
Since the appointment of a Vaccination Officer
in this District the existing Vaccination Act has
gradually become more systematically and effectually
carried out. The operation is also, apparently under
the influence of a growing confidence, being more
readily complied with. Seeing therefore the great
improvement already effected, it is reasonable to hope that
with some few judicious amendments of the existing Act,
and the peremptory "shall" being made to supply the