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As Plague has for many years been the infectious disease in this Colony to which public attention has been mostly drawn the following complete Table of cases notified since 1894 when the disease was first recognised here is repeated and brought up to date. It will be noticed that in spite of occasional severe epidemics during the last fifteen years the incidence of the disease has been very much less during this period than in the previous fifteen years.
Year Cases Year Cases 1894... 5,000 1909..... 135 1895. 44 1910..... 25 1896.... 1,204 1911... 269 1897... 21 1912... 1,857 1898. 1,320 1913.. 408 1899 1,486 1914... 2,146 1900.... 1,087 1915.... 144 1901.... 1,651 1916... 39 1902 572 1917... 38 1903.... 1,415 1918... 266 1904. 510 1919. 464 1905..... 272 1920.... 138 1906.... 893 1921.. 150 1907... 240 1922. 1,181 1908..... 1,073 1923.. 148* This is an estimate and is probably much too low.
SMALL-POX.
During the last six months of 1922 there were only 12 cases of Small-pox and during the first two months of 1923 only 11 cases.
This disease generally diminishes greatly with the advent of hot weather but in 1923 the disease was unusually prevalent in the months of March to July, inclusive.
This was thought to presage a severe epidemic in the following cool season and in October it was clear that such would happen.
The number of cases for the year was the greatest for over ten years.
At the beginning of November a free vaccination campaign was begun and was continued with great success throughout the ensuing cool season.
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