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ingly strong. But, unfortunately, it did not receive much discussion.
It rested, as we have seen, on the practical unanimity of
the medical profession in the opinion that universal primary
vaccination would extinguish small-pox. It was argued that the
plague of small-pox was such as to justify exceptional measures.
It was believed that vaccination had already come into such
general vogue that only carelessness accounted for occasional
neglect. And, finally, it was assumed that there were no dangers
to be feared such as might perplex the consciences of parents.
The law is also in abeyance by resolution of the guardians,
in the following Metropolitan Unions, viz., Camberwell,
Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Mile End, St. Olave's, St.
Saviour's, and Shoreditch. Making allowance for the fact that
in about 46 of the 122 unions the suspension of the compulsory
law is professedly only temporary until this Commission shall
have reported, we cannot regard without anxiety and fear
the painful conflict that would be inevitable if an attempt were
made to revive and re-enforce the compulsory law in these
localities against the prevalent opinion of the inhabitants.
Indeed, even to make the attempt would be impossible
without a considerable change in the law. For at present the duty of
enforcement lies with the guardians, and it is made a test question
in their election. If we could suppose that the evidence laid
before us would have the effect of changing local opinion, we might
count on the future election of guardians willing to carry out the
law. But a large part of that evidence has been published
already, and there is hitherto no appearance whatever of any
change in the local opinion of the unions above mentioned,
except in the rare cases in which epidemic has occasioned panic.
Each year of our labours has witnessed not an increase, but a
decrease in the number of guardians elected in these unions by
the supporters of compulsion.
It appears, therefore, that, if the present law is to be made
really effective, this can only be secured by imposing the duty of