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the age at which the preventive efficacy of primary vaccination
has ceased, and re-vaccination has not been performed. Then
the disease, which is always present, and readily diffused by the
great intermingling of persons, finds, so to speak, a ready soil in
which to flourish. When the epidemic is over, the most
susceptible of the unprotected persons have suffered, many have
died, and there is no soil for a few years in which the germs of
the disease can be developed. Age also exerts considerable
influence upon the epidemic occurrence, both of the Small Pox
and other infectious diseases, which attack especially children
and young persons, the Small Pox, however, including many
adult persons among its victims. When an epidemic has
occurred, and affected those susceptible, a few years must elapse
before there is a sufficient number of subjects of suitable age to
allow of the general and extensive spread of the disease required
to form the epidemic.
Slaughter-houses.—These were, as usual, inspected by
the Sanitary Committee and myself during the year. They were
20, kept by the same number of butchers. Last year the
numbers were the same. They were mostly clean and in good
order.
Cow-houses.—These were also inspected during the year.
They were 26, kept by the same number of cowkeepers, the
number of cows being 277. In 1876 the numbers were 27, 27,
and 352. The condition of the cow-houses is very variable, some
being well-constructed, and in excellent order, while a few are
very closely confined, low, and really unsuitable for the purpose.
In consequence of a general complaint, emanating from the
Metropolitan Board of Works, that the cattle disease was much
fostered and propagated by the bad arrangement of the cowhouses
in' the metropolis, the Vestry directed me to make a
"Special Report" on their condition. This was done, and the
Report printed and circulated among the Vestry; and it was
determined to oppose the licenses of some of them at the