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38
General, "in the zymotic mortality of the year was
the high death-rate from small-pox. The deaths
from this disease in London were 2,371, giving a
rate of 0.62 per 1,000. Only on seven occasions
had this rate been exceeded in the previous 43 years,
and the prevalence of this disease was the more remarkable,
inasmuch as neither the rest of England
and Wales, nor any one of the other large towns,
was similarly affected; moreover, the same unhappy
pre-eminence in regard to small-pox had been displayed
by the metropolis for several preceding
years." Various opinions have been expressed as
to the cause of the recent greater prevalence of
small-pox in London than in the other large towns.
Dr. Cameron, M.P., has attributed it to the deterioration
of the lymph in use, and Dr. W. B. Carpenter
to the exceptional malignity of the epidemic, it being
such as to beat down the defences of vaccination.
From what I have heard and read, I am inclined to
believe that the lymph may in some instances have
been at fault, but that more frequently the operation
of vaccination has been inefficiently and insufficiently
performed.
In Paddington there were only 7 deaths, 6 of
which occurred during the second quarter of the
year. During the year 123 cases were removed by
the Inspectors to the hospitals—91 from St. Mary's