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50
wise, looking to the very small number of porsons among
us who have previously had small-pox, it would have
spread among us with the rapidity and the violence of a
plague), proves equally conclusively that there is a considerable
percentage of persons who are insufficiently, or
not at all, protected, of whom some have never been
successfully vaccinated and some have never been vaccinated
at all, who constitute the pabulum on which the
epidemic feeds.
The duties of parishes in reference to small-pox are
divided between the Boards of Guardians and the Batch7-0169
Vestries.
Boards of Guardians are responsible for carrying out all
laws relating to vaccination; Vestries are responsible for
enforcing the provisions of the various sanitary acts. I
trust I shall not be deemed impertinent when 1 say that,
to the best of my belief, the Guardians of the parish have
done their share of these duties with zeal and liberality, and
considerable success, and that there has been cordial and
useful co-operation between their officials and those of the
Vestry.
The following are the measures which, up to March 25th
of the year, have been taken by the Vestry in reference to
small-pox:—
(1.) A handbill was printed and extensively circulated
pointing out in a few words the impending danger of an
epidemic of small-pox, the chief causes of that danger,
and the necessity of efficient vaccination. (See appendix.)
(2.) Another handbill (a reprint, with slight modifications,
of one published in the appendix to my last report) entitled
"Measures to be adopted against the spread of Fevers,"
was also printed and largely distributed.