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49
shall be able to show you that although we cannot accomplish
all we would wish for our fellow-creatures, nevertheless the
course adopted by your Board has been productive of enormous
good, and has saved an incalculable amount of suffering and
affliction to those whose lives it is your duty to protect. It
would be simply awful to realize what would be the result, if
the measures now adopted were to be relinquished. We know
that 50 years ago one-half of the population were scarred by
this disease.
During last year 266 cases of small pox were known to have
occurred in this district, against 328 cases the previous year.
Of the 266 cases last year, there were 173 in the parish of
Fulham, against 209 the previous year, and 93 in the parish
of Hammersmith, against 119 the previous year. This diminution
in the number of cases is satisfactory, and points to
improvement in the means employed in dealing with the
disease. Of the 173 cases occurring in Fulham, 135 were
removed to hospitals and properly isolated; 38 were treated at
home, and not properly isolated. Of the 93 in the parish of
Hammersmith, 84 were removed to hospitals and properly
isolated, while 9 were treated at home, and not properly
isolated.
Thus, of the cases in Fulham, 28.1 per cent, were not properly
isolated, whereas only 9.6 per cent, of those in Hammersmith
were not properly isolated. These facts, to my mind,
speak volumes. May we not reasonably ask the question—' Is
not the difference in the per-centage of cases not properly
isolated sufficient, and more than sufficient, to account for the
difference in the actual number of cases occurring in the two
parishes?' By reference to my report last year, it will be seen
that 54.1 per cent, of the cases in Fulham were not properly
isolated, and in Hammersmith, 16 per cent. Now, we see we
have reduced the figures to 28.1 and 9.6 per cent., and what is
the result? Why, we have reduced the actual numbers of
cases occurring from 209 to 173, and 119 to 93. This is some
evidence when we take into consideration the fact that in the
Western Districts of the Metropolis last year there was a greater
number of cases than the previous year. Of course, I do not
pretend that this absolutely proves that the number of cases has
been lessened through this cause, though the evidence is strong
that points that way. Of the 266 cases of small pox occurring
last year, 164 were males, and 102 females. The ages varied
from 5 weeks to 70 years; the average age was 25 years: 208
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