View report page

12
revaccinated, with 46 deaths.=8.6 per cent. In 130, where
the result of revaccination was unknown, there was 1 death,=
0.7 per cent. In 7 cases where the result was doubtful, there
were 110 deaths. The whole number of cases in the German
Field Army during the epidemic of 1870-71, was 4,991, with
only 297 deaths,=nearly 6 per cent. of the cases. Whether
the number of cases in the French Army, given by some French
writers as regards the Field Army, viz., 23,469 cases, was
absolutely correct or not, it was impossible to say; but in the
Paris Army alone, numbering 170,000, the cases were 11,500,
and the deaths 1,600 (nearly 14 per cent.). Again, the French
prisoners in Germany were 372,918; the Small-pox cases were
14,178, the deaths 1,963, that is over 13 per cent.; while the
unmobilised German army, on the other hand, numbered
300,424, the Small-pox cases 3,472, and the deaths only 162,
that is, 4-6 per cent. This was a striking instance of the
protective power of vaccination, for Dr. Grossheim amply
proved that the French army was far less thoroughly vaccinated
than the German.
The reverse of this picture is contained in the Annual
Report of the Medical Superintendent of Health for the City
of Providence, which contained, in 1885, 118,070 inhabitants.
The large number of vaccinations and revaccinations in a city
where vaccination is not compulsory shows a higher standard
of intelligence or less prejudice than is to be found in this
Metropolis, and compares most favorably with the results
obtained by this Board when revaccination was carried out
under great difficulties, and a comparatively small number of
children revaccinated:—
The number of persons vaccinated by this department
during 1885 was 16,766. Of the 16,766 persons vaccinated
during the year, scarcely more than a dozen had sufficient
trouble with their arms to require medical assistance. In all