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Board of Works for the Hackney District.
SANITARY REPORT
For the Year, 1884.
To the Board of Works for the Hackney District.
Gentlemen,
As the most important matter connected with the
prevalence of disease in this district, during this year, is the
severe epidemic of Small-pox, I propose commencing my
report by a disoussion of the main incidents of the outbreak,
dating back to October 1st, 1883, as from that date to the end of
September usually constitutes an epidemic year. I do not mean
to say that during this period an epidemic of this disease begins
and ends, because that is by no means the fact, but that in the
early autumnal months there is such a diminution as to justify
the course I propose taking. This is also the more advisable as
the Managers of the Asylums Board decided in June last not
only to reduce permanently the number of cases in the hospital,
but also to cease bringing very large numbers of sick from
other districts and parishes on this side of the Thames to the
Homerton hospital. It is therefore probable that the incidence
of the disease will hereafter prove to be very different from
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