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effect of masking to some extent the prevalence of the epidemic in
other parishes, as judged by the number of admissions into the
hospital, yet the above figures shew that the parish of Islington,
in which parish there is no small pox hospital, sent more patients
to Fulliam than any parish in the vicinity of the hospital. Some
of the contributory parishes did not send all their cases to the
hospital. Fulham is credited with having sent in more doubtfully
vaccinated cases than any other parish. Only 10 persons with
good vaccination marks were admitted, and of these not one
died. As showing the importance of infant vaccination, it is
mentioned that the percentage mortality amongst the unvaccinated
under five years of age, was almost double that
of those over five. Among 112 "discrete" cases, thoroughly
modified by vaccination, there was but one death: more than a
third of the "confluent" cases died; seven out of eight of the
"petechial," and all the 9 "hemorrhagic." Of 25 cases admitted in
the months of September, October, and the beginning of November,
seven were of the ''malignant'' form. The average duration of stay
in the hospital amongst the fatal cases was about 4½ days, amongst
the vaccinated, 35.62 days, and amongst the unvaccinated, 46.73
days. Mr. Sweeting states that he can fully corroborate the point
to which I have often called attention, viz., "that the bulk of the Kensington
cases consists of servants (chiefly female,) whose infection
can in many cases be distinctly traced to exposure to infectious
influences, e.g. a visit to an infected house on the social Sunday
out." He adds that "the history of infection of every case within
a mile of the Hospital has been gone into, and a record kept," so
that he hopes to be able to lay before the Asylum Board many
curious and striking facts in the report for the current year.
During the year 50 patients were placed on the "dangerous list
33 of these were visited by 48 persons, who made altogether 76
visits. Only one of the visitors was subsequently admitted with
small-pox, but she was obviously infected prior to her first visit.
As it has been supposed that there is indiscriminate visiting of
patients, the above statement is reassuring. Mr. Sweeting remarks
that "it is needless to point out that the visiting is reduced to the
smallest possible limits, due regard being, however, paid to the
feelings and sentiments of the relatives of patients."
Forty-four fresh members of the hospital staff were re-vaccinated.