View report page

156
inflame, and are attended by satellites, and a more limited eruption,
possibly due only to external contagion, is produced. Of the
first, only a single example is to be found in the reports (Case
31 : not fatal) before us, but of the second there have been
several. One of the most definite of these latter is the case ably
and fully reported in the evidence of Dr. Fyson and Dr. Frederick
Taylor. In that instance a child previously in good health, and
vaccinated with calf-lymph by means of a needle which had never
been used before, died about six weeks afterwards with severely
ulcerated arms, and ulcers in several parts of the body and limbs.
No precaution had been neglected, and the event could only, as
in other similar cases, be attributed to what is known as idiosyncrasy
on the part of the child, a peculiarity of health attended by
exceptional susceptibility to the specific virus of vaccinia.
Nothing has produced so deep an impression hostile to
vaccination as the apprehension that syphilis may be communicated
by it. It was at one time doubted whether syphilis
could result, and it was even confidentially asserted that it could
not. The fact that this was possible had been fully established,
and was generally acknowledged by the medical profession before
we commenced our enquiries. Our work has, therefore, chiefly
been to ascertain the extent and character of the risk and the
means of its prevention. As a general summary of the evidence
on this matter, it may be stated that nothing in the least novel
has been elicited, and that no hint has been given of the occurrence
of any recent series of vaccination-spyhilis cases in British practice.
In 1856, an extensive investigation undertaken by the Board
of Health, under the direction of its Medical Adviser, resulted in
the expression of an opinion that there was no proof that syphilis
could be communicated in the practice of vaccination. Mr. Simon
had issued circular letters of enquiry very widely, and although a
few of his respondents had answered cautiously, none had been
able to produce convincing facts, and a large majority had
expressed entire credulity. Amongst the latter were Sir Thomas