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23
Dr. Aitken, Professor of Pathology in the Army
Medical School, Netley, states in his " Science and
Practice of Medicine" "The actual extent of the
security against death from Smallpox enjoyed by vaccinated,
compared with unvaccinated, persons, has been
calculated by Mr. Simon from various sources; and it
appears that the death-rate from Smallpox amongst the
vaccinated varies from an inappreciably small mortality
to 12½ per cent.; that amongst the unprotected the
death-rate from Smallpox ranges from 14½ to 53¾ per
cent."
" The average per centage mortality from Smallpox,
stated by Mr. Marson, to occur amongst the vaccinated,
is 5.24 ; but when vaccination is known to have been
perfectly performed, as shown by the cicatrices, the
mortality is uniformly found to be reduced to less than
half of one per cent."
Isolation by means of Smallpox Hospitals is the
only effectual means of checking the progress of this
disease, more especially amongst the poor. About the
middle of the year 1881; there was a great dearth of
hospital accommodation in the Metropolis, consequently
the malady very much increased.
I will cite an instance to show the necessity of these
Smallpox Hospitals. Towards the end of May a case
of Smallpox came under my notice in one of the courts
of the parish, the Relieving Officer was unable to
remove the patient in consequence of all the Smallpox
Hospitals being full. The result was, three more cases