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49
How much must be credited to the deficient water supply and
how much to other circumstances, such as high atmospheric
temperature, and deficient rainfall, I am unable to say; but I am of
opinion, without stating to what extent, that the scarity of water
last year had a prejudical effect upon the public health in the way
indicated.
VACCINATION.
The following is a copy of the return made by the vaccination
officers for the half year ending June 30th, 1898. I have not been
able to get a copy of the return for the remainder of the year. Out
of 3046 during the half year only 473 have been vaccinated, and 20
have been excused from the operation on certificates of conscientious
objection. After deducting deaths, removals and postponements of
vaccination there remains the large number of 1933 infants not
vaccinated—equalling 63.4% of the total.
The following are the percentages of unvaccinated infants in the
four registration sub.districts:—Stamford Hill 55.4% Central Hackney
68%; South East.Hackney 66.6%; South.West Hackney 59.4%.
These percentages are all higher than they were for the year
1897. This decrease in the amount of Vaccination in the district has
now been increasing for some years; and the time is not very
distant when it may be said that the population of Hackney is
practically an unvaccinated one. With an increasing density of
population and an absence of protection by Vaccination, what chance
of escape from a disaster have the Hackney population, should
small.pox once obtain a hold of the inhabitants of the district ? The
prospect cannot be considered without great uneasiness.
In August of last year an important Act of Parliament, amending
the law with respect to Vaccination was passed by the Legislature.
The following is a summary of its chief provisions relating to London
Districts.
Sec. 1 (1) Extends the period within which a child shall
be vaccinated to six months from its birth instead of three
months mentioned in Sec. 16 of the Vaccination Act of 1867, and
repeals so much of that section as requires a child to be taken to
a public vaccinator for Vaccination.