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The total number of deaths which occurred in the hospitals during the period
under consideration was 2,677. Of these 1,008 were vaccinated, and 1,669 were
unvaccinated cases.
The percentage mortality upon the whole of the admissions was therefore 17.6,
being at the rate of 8.8 per cent. of the vaccinated, and no less than 44.4 per cent.
of the unvaccinated.
It may be observed that among the 11,412 vaccinated patients admitted, are
included the majority of those who stated that they had been vaccinated, but upon
whom no traces of vaccination were discernible.
No case of Small Pox has come within the cognizance of either of the Medical
Superintendents of any person who had been efficiently vaccinated and successfully
re-vaccinated.
The nurses and servants employed from time to time at the various hospital
during the epidemic have enjoyed almost absolute immunity from infection, and the
few—some half-dozen amongst nearly one thousand—who contracted the disease
whilst discharging their duties, had, from some cause or other, escaped re-vaccination
before entering the wards.
Experience has therefore irrefutably proved that, were vaccination efficiently
performed in infancy, within the period prescribed by the "Vaccination Act." and
re-vaccination successfully accomplished at puberty, Small Pox, instead of being, as
it is at present, a common and extremely fatal disease, would be a comparatively
rare one, and so little fatal that few, if any, deaths would result from it.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
W. F. JEBB, Clerk.
MEASLES.
(Decennial Average 83.3).
As usual, this disease carried off a large number of children, 106
deaths being referred to this cause, of whom all but ten were under
five years of age. The period of life at which the greatest number
of deaths took place was between the years of one and two, 40 deaths
occurring between those ages.
As the period at which this disease is most infectious is before the
rash appears, isolation is, except in the case of schools, seldom or
never attempted. Simple measles rarely kills, as a rule, the immediate
cause of death is the lung trouble which so frequently accompanies
this affection, and which should always be guarded against with the
greatest vigilance.
SCARLATINA.
(Decennial Average 125).
Scarlet fever caused 76 deaths, 56 of which were young children
under five years of age. Very many of these were from the kidney
affection which is such a frequent sequel of Scarlet fever; it should
be borne in mind that mild cases of Scarlet fever are just as likely