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vaccination stations, and the hours of attendance of the public vaccinators. This is no
time for half measures, cleanliness, disinfection, destruction of infected bedding and
clothing, &c., are of immense value; but the efficient vaccination of the whole of the
inhabitants of the parish is the only true prophylactic. Isolation of the infected is of
paramount importance; it is at once a suppression of a centre of infection. Unfortunately
we cannot compel removal, unless the patient is without proper accommodation, or lodged
in a room occupied by more than one family. Often, however, a good deal of pressure
is put upon the friends of a patient suffering from infectious disease by the neighbours,
and, if the matter be put before people in a proper light, they usually consent to removal.
Should small pox become epidemic in the parish, I should feel it my duty to advise the
institution of a small pox hospital in this district.
As I am now upon the subject of infectious disease, I wish to make one or two suggestions.
Well-to-do people arc usually treated in their own homes when suffering from
infectious maladies, other members of the family being sent out of the way, and the
building thoroughly disinfected when the illness is over; this, however, costs money, and
it would be much better if such patients could go at once to the London Fever Hospital.
Paupers can of course be sent to the Metropolitan Fever Asylums. There is, however,
a large class of persons above the pauper class, but who are not in a position to pay for
the accommodation. Such people, however, can only be admitted to the Asylum Hospital
by being made paupers, which is unjust. Now I think it extremely desirable that this
Vestry should (as it is empowered to do) follow the example of the neighbouring parish
of Poplar, and make arrangements with the governors of the London Fever Hospital for
the reception of such patients. It can make no difference to the ratepayers whether payment
for fever patients be made out of the sanitary or poor rate; but to the patient it
makes the difference of his being pauperized or not. Again, the payment made to the
London Fever Hospital is considerably less than the cost of a patient in the Asylums'
Hospitals. As a matter of fact it has been ascertained that of the number of patients at
the Homerton Hospital fully two-thirds should not have been made paupers.
GEORGE PADDOCK BATE, M.D.
The recommendation to print and distribute a bill met with a considerable
amount of opposition, it being considered that much panic would be
thereby caused, but it was eventually decided to refer the matter to the
Sanitary Committee, with power to issue a bill, which was accordingly
done. The disease, however, continued to prevail, the greatest number
of deaths (5) occurring in the week ending February 17th, the streets
most infested being Princes-court and Foster-street. In Princes-court
there were thirteen cases and seven deaths, five of which occurred in the
Small Pox Hospital. In consequence of the large number of cases
occurring in Princes-court, it was specially inspected. The houses were