View report page

19
spring, continued during the summer, and slowly
declined during the autumn and winter. The
numbers that died in the quarters of the year
ending last Lady-day, stated successively, were
10, 5, 4 and 2 in Paddington,—788, 512, 214
and 161 in London.
Although these numbers are very inconsiderable
as compared either with the total mortality
of which they form part, or with the mortality
from various other epidemic diseases which
attract much less attention, they represent a
large amount of distress and misery; for while
ample provision is made by public charity for
the gratuitous reception and treatment of the
poor when suffering from any of the diseases
of every-day prevalence, no such provision exists
for those who take smallpox. If a man is
attacked by any other deadly or dangerous illness,
hospitals are accessible to him in every
part of London; but if he be so unfortunate as
to contract smallpox, every door of relief is closed.
There is but one small hospital, situated at
Highgate, into which he may be admitted, on
payment of the proper fee, if there is room.
At the date of my last report, a carriage
for the removal of persons suffering from contagious
diseases had been ordered by the Vestry,
which was to be constructed expressly for the