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57
four years, another 600,000 persons in this great city from being
afflicted, another 5,153 from being hurried to their graves in a
slate of decomposition, with some thousands left to drag out an
existence disfigured for life. Let us suppose, for one moment,
that we could view the 5,153 corpses placed side by side in the
revolting condition in which they were buried ; or, let us for a
moment imagine that we could see collected togtther the thousand
of our fellow-creatures who are now scarred for life. Could we
then, look at such sights with satisfaction, or consider that there
was no room for improvement in our sanitary arrangements for
dealing with this preventible disease in this the greatest city in
the world ? It is true that the number of deaths is not large as
compared with the population of London, but it should be
remembered that this does not alter the affliction to those individuals
who are attacked, nor does it remove the responsibility
from those who are in power and whose duty it is to protect, as
far as possible, those who cannot protect themselves. The
Vestries and District Board seem to have done their utmost with
the legal power entrusted to them. What is generally asked for
and agreed to be necessary is compulsory registration, and
isolation of those attacked. Statistics abundantly prove that
where those attacked are immediately isolated, and proper sanitary
precautions at once taken, there the disease is at once stamped
out ; but where cases are not immediately isolated, nor proper
sanitary precautions adopted, there the disease is sure to spread.
Surelv the time of a Select Committee of the House of Commons
would not be wasted in thoroughly investigating this subject ? A
great benefit would be conferred upon London if a Committee
could recommend the passing of such laws as should, during the
next four years, save another 5153 of our fellow-creatures from
a loathsome death, another 60,000 persons from a revolting
disease. During last year 166 cases of small pox—101 males,
and 65 females—were known to have occurred in the District,
against 266 cases reported the previous year. From the number
of deaths registered we may be sure that these numbers represent
not one half of the number of cases which actually occurred. It
would appear that more than half of the cases are concealed,
and treated at home without sufficient isolation. It cannot be
wondered therefore, that, notwithstanding the great care exercised
by your Board, with the view of stopping the spread of the
disease, fresh outbreaks constantly took place. Of the 166 cases
which were reported last year there were 133 in the parish of
Fulham, against 173 the previous year; 33 in the parish of
Hammersmith, against 93 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.
These 166 cases occurred in 85 streets, in 119 houses.