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the small pox epidemic of 1871-2, the rate has decreased in
1871-76 to 3.56, or to less than in 1841-50. In London,
although the increase during the thirty years was not so great,
yet the decrease subsequently was greater, as the percentage was
only 3.93 for the years 1871-6, against 4.44 in 1841-50. Now
as the former period includes the epidemic of small pox in 1871-2,
and the commencement of that now raging, it is evident that
some cause or causes must have been in operation in London
that did not extend to the whole country; and the only reason I
can suggest to account for the decrease is the establishment of
the hospitals for infectious diseases by the Metropolitan Asylum
Board. In Hackney the decrease is not so decided. As regards
the deaths from small pox in 1876, it will be seen that although
they have in Hackney raised the death rate of the seven chief
zymotic diseases from 3.17 to 3.25 per 1000, yet they have not
raised it so as to equal the means of 1856-60, and of 1861-70. I
fear, however, that we shall scarcely be able to say as much for
1877, as there is but little evidence at present of a decline in
the mortality from the epidemic, and there is also a probability
that we shall suffer from an epidemic of measles.
I have attended 34 Sanitary Committee meetings in the
year, at many of which important matters concerning the general
sanitary arrangements of the district were considered, as well as
the steps necessary to prevent as far as possible the spread of
small pox, the details connected with the removal of house refuse
from the district and other allied matters. I also attended
16 meetings of Sub-Committees, appointed by the Sanitary
Committee, to inspect the cowsheds and slaughter houses, the
disinfecting chamber and several streets and rows of houses
specially complained of, making a total of 50 meetings. Also
several meetings of other committees as well as the Board
meetings, so that I have attended 77 meetings during the year.
There were 93 cowsheds and 79 slaughter houses inspected,
many of them more than once, by the View Committee and