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18
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
It is interesting to observe the proportion of cases of
infectious disease which were unknown to the Sanitary
Department. Taking into consideration three diseases:
Small-pox, Scarlet fever, and Diphtheria alone, we find that
409 cases became known to the Department, while 123
daaths remitted from these causes. Now 123 deaths
represent at the very least ten times the number of cases or
1230. At this estimate, only one case in every three which
occurred became known, and a large share of these would
never have been heard of, if the death register had not borne
witness to the case. It is a matter for regret that more information
is not given to the Sanitary Department and that
greater use is not made of the opportunities afforded by the
Vestry for the isolation of infectious persons and for the disinfection
of their rooms, clothing, and bedding. The advantages
which result from utilizing the machinery of the department
cannot be learnt at once, nor will they be fully appreciated
until the public have become better educated as to the
manner in which diseases spread. Nevertheless, the Vestry
have done good work in preventing the extension of disease
from those centres which became known to them.
Altogether, 85 cases of small pox and 64 cases of fever were
removed to hospital by the Vestry's ambulance apart from
those cases removed to the Metropolitan Asylums' Board,
and other hospitals. Four hundred rooms and a large
amount of bedding and clothing were disinfected. It is
doubtless to these measures that St. Pancras is partly
indebted for the fact, that there has not been a larger
mortality from infectious diseases and it is upon their further
extension that we must rely if our efforts in preventing
disease are to meet with a larger success. There is, however,
one of the infectious diseases for which different
preventive measures are required, which can be absolutely
prevented if these are properly carried out. I refer to small
pox, and its prevention by properly performed vaccination and
re-vaccination.
At the time I write, efforts are being made in our district
to prejudice our parishioners against vaccination. That
they will not meet with success among the thinking portion
of the community there is no doubt; as evidence that they
have met with no success among our legislators may be