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the cases will be found much less numerous in that parish. In all
London the deaths were 2,544; a large number, but much less
than that in 1871, when the deaths amounted to 7,876.
The deaths from Scarlet Fever were also in excess in the year.
This is a most troublesome disease to contend with, for many of
the cases are so extremely slight that the patients are well
enough, and allowed to mix freely with other children, and so
spread the disease, and the next affected may suffer severely and
succumb to the malady. Overcrowding, and the occupation of
single rooms by families, are also potent causes of the diffusion
of this disease, and these evils certainly exist to a considerable
extent in this as in other parishes; although, when discovered,
the former is always remedied. Very frequently two or three
children in a family may be affected with the mild form of
this disease, remaining at home, without medical attendance,
the other members of the family going to school, and so carrying
the infection in their clothes, until the disease becomes extensively
diffused. Four of the cases included under Scarlet Fever
were registered as arising from Diphtheria.
Of the 25 deaths from Fever, 1 was registered as arising from
Typhus, 21 from Typhoid or Enteric Fever, and 3 from common
continued Fever.
The same remarks apply to Measles and Hooping Cough, in
regard to the spread of which no care whatever is taken. Yet
the mortality from these diseases is very great. Thus, in 1877,
when there were 2,544 deaths from Small Pox in the metropolis,
there were 2,317 from Measles, and 1,780 from Hooping Cough.
And in 1873, when there were only 115 deaths from Small Pox,
there were 2,195 from Measles, and 2,689 from Hooping Cough
—in all, 4,884 !
Small Pox epidemics break out at intervals, as it seems probable
to me, when a certain proportion of unvaccinated persons
is attained, and when another proportion of persons has reached