Table, showing the annual mortality from small-pox in England in three periods: (1) Before the enactment of any vaccination laws; (2) After vaccination was provided gratuitously, but was not obligatory; and (3) since vaccination has been obligatory:—[15]

Division 1.

Before the enactment of anyVaccination Laws.

Division 2.

Vaccination provided gratuitously,but not obligatory.

Division 3.

Vaccination obligatory.

Year.

No. of Deaths.

Year.

No. of Deaths.

Year.

No. of Deaths.

1838

16,268

1841

6,368

1854

2,808

1839

9,131

1842

2,715

1855

2,525

1810

10,431

1847

4,226

1856

2,277

1848

6,903

1857

3,936

1840

4,645

1858

6,460

1850

4,666

1859

3,848

1851

6,997

1860

2,749

1852

7,320

1861

1,320

1853

3,151

Average Annual Deaths.

11,944

—

5,221

—

3,240

The table was compiled for the purpose of showing that legislative measures to provide and enforce vaccination, have been effective in diminishing the mortality from small-pox.

The year 1838 was the most fatal year, from small-pox, in the present century. The table is commenced with that year, while former years are omitted in which the death-rate from small-pox was low, (for it had not prevailed severely since 1825). Hence the average mortality is swelled to 11,944. So much for the first division.

The third division is supposed to prove that the decrease of the mortality from small-pox is due to compulsory vaccination. It must be remembered however, that in the second division there are three epidemic visitations included, while in the third division there is only one. Moreover, if the years 1862–3–4–5, be added, the average annual deaths for the period 1862–65 amount to 5,421, thus—

Year. No. of Deaths.
1862 1,628
1863 5,964
1864 7,684
1865 6,411
— 5,421

Dr. Seaton attributes the diminished mortality from small pox to compulsory vaccination, closing his account with 1861, which is the year of lowest mortality in the table. How will he account for the subsequent increase of mortality from small-pox under a more vigilant enforcement of the Act of Parliament?

In 1863 it amounted to 5,964; and it rose to 7,684 in 1864; which was the most fatal year in regard to small-pox for twenty-four years. If vaccination be really “protective,” and if the gradual diminution of the mortality from small-pox down to the year 1861 was consequent on vaccination having been made compulsory, how, and why was the mortality of 1864 from that disease no less than 6,364 in excess of the mortality of 1861?

Dr. Routh has quoted Dr. Seaton with a view of illustrating the contrast between the last century and the present in respect to the mortality from small-pox.

He has told you that prior to vaccination, the annual death-rate of small-pox per million of population was 3,000. This was a rough estimate made by Sir Gilbert Blane and Dr. Lettsom. The value of this “estimate” may be judged of, when I tell you that prior to 1838, there were no complete statistics of mortality. Mr. Simon in his “Papers on Vaccination” at page lxviii says, “Till after 1837, there could be no authentic knowledge of deaths by small-pox.”