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The Zymotic diseases were neither so fatal as in 1864, nor as in 1863,
notwithstanding the epidemic of Cholera.
The class of diseases which was more fatal than usual, was the tubercular
and rickety, which gave 978 deaths, nearly one-fifth or more exactly 19 per
cent. of the mortality from all causes.
Diarrhoea was fatal in 215 cases, whereas, in 1865, it gave 260 deaths.
Cholera was fatal in 112 cases, besides 20 that died in Hospitals in this
parish, having been brought into them from other districts.
In 1854, Cholera was fatal to 248, and Diarrhœa to 164.
Hooping Cough gave 211 deaths, Scarlatina, 121, and Measles, 101 deaths;
all rather lower numbers than in 1865.
Typhus and Typhoid Fevers are registered as the causes of 116 deaths,
besides 47 from Typhus, and 7 from Typhoid, at the London fever Hospital, of
persons sent from St. Pancras. This is in all, 170; last year the total was 162.
Small Pox was more fatal than in 1865, causing 43 deaths in the Parish,
and 16 at the Small Pox Hospital. This is a very high mortality from a
disease, the mortality of which is almost absolutely preventible by a universal
system of vaccination properly carried out.
From Diphtheria, 31 died, and from Croup, 36.
Vaccination.—There are still a few persons who undervalue vaccination,
and even do what they can to discourage its general adoption. The number of
these persons is small, and they act in opposition to evidence of the most complete
and convincing character.
During the four years, 1863-66, there have been admitted into the Small Pox
Hospital, 5,691 cases; amongst these, the general rate of mortality was in 1863,
17 per cent.; in 1864, 12.9 per cent.; in 1865 and 1866, 13 per cent.
Amongst the unvaccinated persons, the mortality was 48, 36, 38, and 35.7 per
cent. in the four years respectively; whereas, amongst the vaccinated patients,
the mortality was only 12.0, 8 7, 7.4, and 7.3 per cent. in the four years; in
other words, the rate of mortality was more than four times greater amongst the
unvaccinated than amongst the vaccinated patients.
From these figures, collected by one of the most careful medical observers
in England, it is clearly demonstrated that vaccination, as commonly practised,
reduces the mortality of Small Pox very greatly, from 48 per cent. to 12 in one
year, and from 36.7 per cent. to 7.3 in another year.
Unfortunately, we cannot say so much in regard to its preventing the
occurrence of the disease in a milder form. The proportion of vaccinated cases