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per 10,000. From 1841 to 1853, when it was still
more in vogue, but was not compulsory, although
provision was made for gratuitous vaccination by
public vaccinators, it was 3 per 10,000: from 1854
to 1863, when it had become compulsory by Act of
Parliament, it was 1.7 per 10,000; and from 1864
until the present time, it has been at about the same
proportion, although in 1867 it was only 1.2 per
10,000; in 1868, 0.96; and in 1869, but 0.72.
What more striking and trustworthy proof could be
offered of the benefits of vaccination ?
With respect to the onset and progress of the
present epidemic, it would seem, from the returns
of cases admitted into the Small-pox Hospital, that
the disease begun to manifest unusual severity as
far back as the month of November, 1869, for in
that month the number of admissions rose from an
average of about 31 in the month to 51. During
the five following months the rate of increase was
steadily advancing, and in May, 1870, it amounted
to 112, at which proportions it remained until the
following October, when it rose to 144, then to 159,
and lastly to 178. This was the closing month of
1870, and the number was the highest for the
whole period of the epidemic; for from that time it
gradually declined to nearly its normal proportions.
Looking at the weekly returns of deaths from