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40
Although for the whole group of these diseases
the mortality is higher than the average, which was
95 for the last nine years, yet it is not so high as
the mortality of the year 1862. The table however
presents us with this peculiarity, that although all
the other forms of Zymotic disease are below,
small-pox is very much above the average. The
deaths from small-pox during the nine years
preceding 1863, were only eighteen, whilst in this
one year they were twenty-one. This was only
a part of a great epidemic of small-pox which
spread throughout London, and even now has not
subsided in the provinces. Although but one case
of death from small-pox occurred in 1862, I felt
that our Parish as well as the rest of London was
unprepared to meet an outbreak of this disease, and
I have been very urgent that means should be taken
to secure the only protection which we know against
this disease, and that is Vaccination.
The Government has from time to time legislated
on the subject of vaccination, but we have still to
look for the legislative enactments that shall secure
the due vaccination of all children born in this
country. Amongst the causes which operate against
securing the due performance of the operation of
vaccination, I would mention the following:—
1. The carelessness and want of foresight of
a large number of the population, who
seldom think of providing against the evils