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85
so that the infant population was made up of "19 vaccinated
to each unvaccinated individual," The proportion of vaccinated
children now is doubtless smaller, and certainly the
proportion of unvaccinated persons in this parish, as the
above figures testify, is increasing year by year. Summonses
were taken out in 29 instances for neglect to have children
vaccinated. In 28 of these cases the law was complied with;
in the remaining case a fine of twenty shillings and costs was
imposed. Of the 3,001 successful vaccinations, 1,710 (about
57 per cent.) were performed at the Public Stations and the
Parish Infirmary. The revaccinations at these placeswere 313.
With regard to the protection against small-pox afforded
by vaccination—differing in degree as this does according as
the vaccination is more or less "successful"—it ought not
to be necessary to say anything; but the pertinacity with
which some misguided persons still decry the most beneficent
of medical discoveries shows no signs of abatement; and as
their teaching is calculated to prejudice the general public
against the wise compulsion authorised by law, it was well that
the Government resolved, a few years back, to appoint a Royal
Commission to inquire and report on the subject. It is a
matter for regret that in 1892, at a time when small-pox
threatened to assume an epidemic form, the Commissioners
should have taken a retrograde step, which is not unlikely to
be attended with disastrous results, by encouraging disobedience
to the law in respect of vaccination, for in a fifth
Interim Report, a recommendation was made which, if carried
into effect, would be tantamount to an abrogation of compulsory
vaccination. At present, every parent or person
having the custody of an unvaccinated child, who, after certain
proceedings, disobeys the order of a Justice directing the
child to be vaccinated within a certain time, is liable to a
penalty not exceeding twenty shillings. And upon proof of
continued disobedience, after such order made, the said parent