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Disastrous thunder storms also characterised September, and
excessive fluctuations of temperature.
October was a rough and squally month, with about twice the
average rainfall.
November was a boisterous, rainy, stormy month; but fogs were
very little prevalent.
December was a fearfully tempestuous month, with a rainfall that
was simply prodigious.
The year 1872 was hence characterised by an enormous rainfall,
innumerable thunder storms, much wind, and great alternations of
temperature and meteorological conditions generally.
VACCINATION.
I am indebted to Mr. Tom Adams for the interesting table relative
to Vaccination. It exhibits in a clear form the state of the parish
with regard to Vaccination, more expecially of infants, and embraces
returns not only of public, but also of private Vaccination, showing
how satisfactorily the new Vaccination arrangements are working,
as far as regards the amount of Vaccination done.
I have made repeated visits to the Vaccination stations, and have
always met with a goodly number of well Vaccinated children, each
child having seldom less than four good vesicles. There is no doubt,
too, that the new arrangements for public Vaccinations ensure at all
times an abundant supply of good lymph for arm to arm Vaccination,
so that it is rarely necessary to Vaccinate from lymph preserved in
sealed tubes or on points.
SANITARY LEGISLATION OF 1872.
The chief Sanitary Act of the Session of Parliament of 1872, was
the "Public Health Act, 1872." The Act affects the metropolis by
only one of its provisions, and in this manner. The 20th section constitutes
bodies, termed port sanitary authorities, to whom are assigned
the powers, rights, duties, capacities, liabilities, and obligations
under the Sanitary Acts; and, further, the corporation of the City of
London is made to be the port sanitary authority for the port of
London.
It may be expected that this clause of the Act will prove of great
value in preventing the introduction of contagious and infectious
disease, and especially cholera, into this metropolis and into this
parish. It is too little borne in mind how closely this parish is connected
with the port of London by the Regent's Canal; and how we
are thus exposed, by vessels coming up the canal, to the invasion of
epidemic disease.
An Act (35 & 36 Vict. cap. 61) was passed to prevent the nuisance