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21
Eastern division, namely Shoreditch, where the death-rate was 0.01.
In the whole of London there were 225 notifications of small-pox of
which the following occurred in the Eastern Division—Shoreditch 1,
Bethnal Green 2, Whitechapel 4, St. George's 2, Limehouse 7, Mile
End 2, and Poplar 9—Bow 1.
The attention paid to this disease by the Medical Inspectors of
the Local Government Board indicates the importance which is
attached by that Authority to prompt information respecting its
appearance, and their opinion of the need for exceptionally vigilant
'attention on the part of the local authority. Fortunately the Royal
Commission on Vaccination has by the presentation at the close of
the year of its long-expected report closed an important stage in
the vaccination controversy. As was to be expected from the circumstances
of the case the conclusions arrived at by the majority of the
Commissioners has not by any means settled the issues of the
controversy. All that has been done is to increase its proportions
and to a certain extent to shift the battle-ground. Both the majority
and the minority reports are most ably drawn up and their contents
have received such publicity in the lay and professional journals that
it is unnecessary for me to here detail them. In the face of the
conclusions arrived at by the Commission it does not seem reasonable
on the part of anyone to any longer doubt the theoretical value of
vaccination. Those conclusions demand the most earnest consideration
of sanitary authorities, and it is to be hoped that in the event of
legislation following the report that a loyal observation of the law will
be generally experienced. Further comment upon the position
appears to be unnecessary in view of the interim condition of the
controversy.
The record of the deaths from small-pox in Bow since 1880 is
exceptionally favourable, there having been only 24 deaths in 15 years.
The figures are :—