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92
In the early part of 1881, however, a recrudescence
of the small pox took place, not only generally
throughout London, but again with apparently disproportionate
severity in our own Parish, and mainly
in No. 4 Ward. Again the Sanitary Committee,
and later the Vestry itself, became very anxious
about the matter; and again, not unnaturally, the
denizens of No. 4 Ward got seriously alarmed,
held public meetings on the subject, and appealed
to the Vestry to assist them in suppressing the
nuisance created, as they believed, by the Deptford
Hospital.
Consequently, early in July, a deputation of
the Vestry waited, by appointment, on the President
of the Local Government Board, placed before
him a series of maps which I had prepared with
the assistance of Mr. Fisher, showing month by
month for a period of three or four years the
distribution of small pox in the Parish of Camberwell;
adduced other facts and arguments to shew
that there was strong prima facie evidence that
the Deptford Hospital acted as a centre of contagion
to us; and requested that a Government
inquiry might be made, similar to that which had
just been concluded in reference to the influence