The Smallpox Pandemic of 1870–1874

Abstract

The Vaccination Act of 1853 inspired by the Epidemiological Scoiety of London was the cause of the incidence and fatality of the pandemic being less in the United Kingdom than in foreign countries. Origin of pandemic in France before outbreak of Franco-Prussian War. Its spread through the country. Vaccination state of civilian population and army in France in 1870. Incidence, fatality and characteristics of the pandemic in England and Wales, London, Scotland and Ireland and foreign countries with special reference to Germany and German army. Lack of hospital accommodation for smallpox cases in London. M.A.B. hospitals opened. Absence of ambulance service. Aerial convection of smallpox. Smallpox fatality in the various Metropolitan boroughs. Incidence and fatality of smallpox heavy in civilian population in Germany as compared with the well-vaccinated army, but lower in Southern German States, where primary vaccination was compulsory, than in Prussia and Saxony which had no vaccination laws. Further statistics illustrating difference in smallpox fatality in different countries and groups of individuals according to their vaccination state. © 1933, The Royal Society of Medicine. All rights reserved.