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39
and the mortality was absolutely less in the Parish
in 1871 than in 1863, it nevertheless demands
attention, as Small Pox is a disease which is actually
under the control of human agency, and which ought
not to be allowed to exist in civilized communities.
The epidemic of this disease, which commenced
in London in the Summer of 1870 and reached its
height in the Autumn of 1871, and is only now
slowly declining (July, 1872), is one of the most
alarming that has visited Great Britain daring the
present century, in fact since the introduction of
vaccination. The deaths from Small Pox in London
during the year 1871 amounted to 7,850. Besides
these, there died in various towns of Great Britain
5,326 persons, making altogether 13,174 deaths.
In Saint James's, Westminster, eighteen persons
died in the Parish. This does not, however, include
all the mortality that arose from cases of Small Pox
amongst the inhabitants of Saint James's, Westminster,
as many were removed to the hospitals and
died there. The whole death of persons who had
lived in the Parish being thirty-three, fifteen having
died in hospitals. Thus it will be seen whilst the
deaths from Small Pox in London was one in 414
of the population; it was only one in 1,000 in the
Parish of Saint James, Westminster. This may
certainly be regarded a very favourable result, for
although St. James's, Westminster, is the richest
Parish in London, it should not be forgotten, whilst
condemning the prevalence of Zymotic disease, that