38 Report of the 
appear generally to decline in the metropolis, as well as in 
ether parts of these dominions, yet it is with concern that 
the Board have noticed the increase of mortality from small- 
pox in this city, last year, to the number of 1,287. 
Previous to the discovery of vaccination the average 
number of deaths from small-pox, within the Bills of Mor- 
tality, was 2000; and though in the last ten years 133,139 
persons were added to the population of this great city, yet 
in 1811, by the benefit of vaccination, the mortality was 
reduced to 751. The increase in the last year we have rea- 
son to ascribe to the rash and inconsiderate manner in which 
great numbers are still inoculated for the small-pox, and 
afterwards required to attend two or three times a week, at 
the place of inoculation, in every stage of their illness. 
This practice of inoculation, and of promiscuous intercourse 
of the patients at the same time with society, is the great 
means by which this disease is kept in existence, and its in- 
fection propagated to persons and places where it would not 
otherwise be seen. This is not only the opinion of this 
Board, founded on observation, but it is a fact confirmed by 
communications to them from the best authorities, and by 
the most unprejudiced characters. ‘ 
The respectable College of Surgeons of Dublin allege 
that the practice of inoculation not only supplies a constant 
source of infection, but prevents the extinction of the dis- 
ease for even a short interval. 
The populous city of Norwich was never free from it till 
the discovery of vaccination, but since that period it has 
experienced occasional remissions from ‘its ravages. In 
1807, after its disappearance for some time, the disorder 
was brought into that city by a vagrant from London, who, 
before the Magistrates were apprized of it, or before the 
salutary advice given by the Faculty to provide a place where 
such person might be secluded from intercourse with the 
mihabitants could be adopted, communicated the conta- 
gion. Of 1,200, who took the infection, 203 died. At 
that period, viz. 1807, the prejudices against vaccination 
had-not subsided. But in 1812, when that city was 
threatened with a similar visitation, by the appearance of 
the small-pox in the neighbourhood, the Magistrates, the 
Faculty, and the Clergy, concurred in recommending vac- 
emation, Between the 10th of August and 22d of Octo- 
ber following, 1316 persons were vaccinated. The result 
was, that ous one gentleman, whose child the Faculty 
refused to inoculate, procured matter of small-pox, which 
he 
