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197
during the year 1876, continued to prevail as an
epidemic throughout the whole of 1877. In the first
quarter of 1876 the Small Pox deaths for the whole
of the Metropolis were only 7 ; in the second quarter
they were 21; in the third, 110; in the fourth, 592;
in the first quarter of 1877 they had risen to 1,192 ;
in the second they were 828 ; in the third 252 ; and
in the last 272. Thus in the year 1878 there were
735 deaths ; in the year 1877, 2,544. The mortality,
though large for a disease which ought to be under
almost absolute control, is not specially large when
compared with that of some of the other infectious
diseases. Nor is it so large as that of the epidemic
of 1870; as will be seen from the following summary:

The epidemic commenced in the east of London, but
gradually spread throughout the Metropolis, attacking
mainly the poorer classes, and occurring therefore
chiefly in those Parishes and in those parts of
Parishes where overcrowding prevails, where there