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third serious outbreak of small-pox which has occurred during the
last 21 years, and must be ascribed, first, to the neglect of vaccination,
or its inefficient performance; and, secondly, to the neglect
of re-vaccination. I am fully convinced that if vaccination and
re-vaccination were thoroughly carried out, small-pox would not
ever again re-appear in an epidemic form. I do not propose to
enter into an argument as to the utility of vaccination as a
prophylactic against small-pox. The value of vaccination is a
fully proven fact. Witness the following statement:-
During the period of the epidemic, 108 cases were under
treatment in the Cork Street Hospital in Dublin, 88 of these had
been previously vaccinated, and 20 unvaccinated. Out of the
88 vaccinated cases, only 5 were fatal; while 12 of the 20 unvaccinated
cases terminated fatally.
Water Supply.
The water supplied to the District by the Lambeth and
Southwark and Vauxhall Companies has been abundant in
quantity, and fairly good in quality. It is important to make this
statement, seeing that the Metropolitan Board of Works have a
scheme for the forcible acquisition of the property of the London
Water Companies.
As far as I can see, that Board has entirely failed to show any
ground for anticipating that the inhabitants of the metropolis
would derive any benefit from such a change; and, as the acquisition
of the existing water companies would certainly cost from
20 to 25 millions of money, the ratepayers should show at once
whether they are or are not favourable to this scheme. An
addition of from 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. to the existing water-rate of
6s. 6d. per head, on the average, though the metropolis would be
the most probable result of its adoption.
Gas Examination.
The average illuminating power of the Gas supplied by the
Phoenix Company, as tested by Letherby's Photometer, according
to the requirements of the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860, was equal to
14.3½ sperm candles. The highest illuminating power was equal
to 14.9, and the lowest 14 candles.
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