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39
classes should be left in the hands of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board. Whether it ha3 yet accepted the
responsibility I am unable to say.
A most striking fact in connection with the Small
Pox cases is the ages of those affected, all, with 10 exceptions,
being over 12 years of age; and of those exceptions
some were unvaccinated. Not one of those above 12
years had ever been re-vaccinated, and I do not know of
a single instance where a case of Small Pox has occurred,
and all the other inmates have been re-vaccinated, that
the disease has again made its appearance. On the other
hand, I could quote several cases where the only unvaccinated
infant in large families has been singled out by
the disease.
The more experience one has only confirms the
belief in the protective power of vaccination and revaccination.
Mortality.—The total number of deaths registered
as having occurred in this District during the year was
820—409 being males, and 411 females (the latter
exceeding the former by 2), being a decrease on the
previous year of 32. Of the total number, 820, 186 took
place in the Infirmary, 79 of which belonged to the parish
of Battersea, leaving 107 to be divided amongst the other
parishes forming the Union. These 186 deaths are 9 in
excess of the previous year, when 177 were returned.
Deducting, then, the 186 Infirmary deaths, which, as
the inmates are derived from the whole of the Union, it
is but fair to do, it will leave 634 as the correct number
of deaths for this outdoor* District, being 55 less than
the previous year. The 79 above referred to as belonging
*Outdoor with reference to Infirmary.