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SPECIAL REPORT
on the
OUTBREAK OP SMALL-POX IN THE BOROUGH OF
WOOLWICH,
By the Medical Officer of Health,
September 23rd, 1901, to June 30th, 1902.
1. Small-pox has been almost absent from the Borough
from 1896 until the autumn of last year, there having been
no deaths from this disease, and not more than three cases
having occurred in any of the five years 1896-1900. The
epidemic which has recently invaded London is the most
serious and fatal since that of 1871 and 1872, which was the
occasion of the appointing of public vaccinators.
Owing to the increasing neglect of vaccination in London
generally (not in the Woolwich Union) an outbreak of Smallpox
had been expected for some time past, and last year the
expectation was realized.
The epidemic began in the central part of London in June
and July, and is supposed to have been imported from Paris.
The first case in this Borough occurred on September 23rd and
was probably contracted in Hackney. One case occurred in
September, 1 in October, 9 in November, 10 in December, 20
in January, 23 in February, 81 in March, 52 in April, 28 in
May, and 13 in June.