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in the North, and in Norwood, Wandsworth, Putney, Streatham,
Dulwich, Eltham, Lewisham, and Charlton, in the South group of
districts. In each of these sub-districts, the number of persons
enumerated to an acre in 1871, showed that a considerable portion of
their area still remains to be built over."
It may, consequently, be calculated that during the current decennial
period, the increase of inhabitants in the Fulham District may be expected
almost to rival Battersea in the last, where, between 1861 and 1871, the
population of that sub-district rose from 19,600 in the former year, to
54,016 in the latter.
The actual increase of people in this District during 1871, by the
excess of births over deaths alone> was nearly one thousand ; future
immigration will do the rest.
The chief feature affecting the Sanitary condition of our District,
during the past year, has been the outbreak of Small Pox, before
mentioned. Probably no outbreak of Epidemic disease amongst us since
the existence of your Board, save that of Asiatic Cholera, has carried
with it so much importance as that through which we passed in 1871.
Small Pox in years long gone by was looked upon as almost one of the
essential trials of infantine, or at any rate, of early life. The immortal
Jenner pioneered the way, midst worlds of opposition, to show this not
to be a necessity. Sanitary Science and Sanitary Laws may not
improperly be said to date from his triumphant discovery of Vaccination.
It was his now world-wide spread mandates on the efficacy of Vaccination,
as prophylactic against Small Pox, which may be considered to have
taken the first hold upon the public mind, in self-preservation against a
common enemy to life and health. Amidst all the confusion and turmoil
of private feelings and interests, the great doctrine of that great man
stole steadily upon public approbation, and for awhile Small Pox was
stayed, indeed, might almost be said to have died out in Britain; but in
a false feeling of security, from lapse of time, Jenner's laws have been
annihilated, and Small Pox once more has become rampant. It is unnecessary
for me to occupy your attention further on this point, since my
views upon it have been so recently laid before you ; but I would most
earnestly repeat my opinion, that nothing short of a National or Parliamentary
enquiry into the prophylactic efficacy of the Vaccine Lymph
now used in this country, will suffice to preserve to us, with anything