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14
Small-pox.—The only case of small-pox notified was that
of a House-Surgeon at Guy's Hospital, who recovered. In
London there were 101 notifications, and 16 deaths.
The statistics of all epidemics of small pox show the
enormous value of vaccination and re-vaccination. Notwithstanding
this the proportion of children that are not
vaccinated has been increasing year by year since 1881,
both in the Metropolis and the rest of England. In 1881
the proportion of children unaccounted for in regard to
vaccination (including cases postponed) in the Metropolitan
Unions was only 5.7 per cent, of the total births. In 1891
this proportion had risen to 16.4 per cent., and is still
rising.
See introduction, pages 7-8, re the Vaccination Bill now
before the House of Commons.
Scarlet Fever or Scarlatina.— There were 87 cases
notified, and only 2 deaths; 84 of the 87 cases were removed
to hospital. In London the notifications were 22,876 in
number, and the deaths from the complications of this
disease were 778, the smallest number of deaths in London
from this disease since 1891, and much below the average of
the preceding ten years.
During July, September and October, the hospitals of
the Metropolitan Asylums Board were very full, so that it
was often impossible to have patients suffering from scarlet
fever or diphtheria promptly removed to hospital; in some
cases there was a delay of many days, notwithstanding daily
application to Norfolk House.