View report page

39
C.—As to whether any. and if so what means should be
adopted for preventing or lessening the ill effects, if any, resulting
from vaccination; and whether, and if so by what means vaccination
with animal vaccine should be further facilitated as a
part of public vaccination.
With regard to this question the Commission report—
(437) We put the use of calf-lymph in the forefront because,
as we have said, this would afford an absolute security against
the communication of syphilis. Though we believe the
risk of such communication to be extremely small where
humanized lymph is employed, we cannot but recognize the
fact that however slight the risk the idea of encountering
even such a risk is naturally regarded by a parent with
abhorrence.
(438) We have come to the conclusion that it would be well at
all events to extend the age period, within which vaccination
is obligatory, to six months from the date of birth, as it is in
Scotland.
(442) It is desirable that the Local Government Board should
draw up clear and simple rules for guidance in the care of
the vaccinated arm, and for the avoidance of any likely
source of injury or irritation of that part. If this were done
untoward incidents might, we think, be largely diminished.
(443) If children were vaccinated and inspected at their
own homes instead of being brought to a public station, we
believe the risk of injury would be sensibly lessened.
(448) We think that safety would be increased by preserving
the lymph in tubes instead of on "dry points."
(449) No instrument should be used for the operation which
has not been boiled or otherwise sterilised for the purpose,
and the simpler the instrument employed the better.
Care should be exercised, too, not to place the insertions
too near together, so as to injure the vitality of the tissues
between them.