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vaccination work done they are insignificant. There is reason further
to believe that they are diminishing under the better precautions of the
present day, and, with the addition of the further precautions which
experience suggests, will do still more in the future.
(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 apart of public Vaccination.
(Par. 437.) We think, therefore, that parents should not be required
to submit their children to vaccination by means of any but calf lymph,
but this should not preclude the use of humanised lymph in case they
so desire.
(Par. 438.) We have come to the conclusion that it would be well,
at all events, to extend the age within which vaccination is obligatory
to from three months to six months from the date of birth.
(Par. 441.) Our attention has been called to the fact that in some
workhouse infirmaries and lying-in hospitals it has been the practice to
vaccinate children within a few days of their birth. Although under
favourable conditions vaccination may be successfully carried out at
that early age, we think the practice is to be deprecated unless there be
at the time obvious danger of small-pox contagion.
(Par. 443.) That some cases of disease contracted through vaccination
might be avoided if the operation were performed at the
child's home, instead of at a public vaccination station. (In Scotland
vaccination is domiciliary rather than stational as it is at present in this
country.)
(Par. 449.) Another precaution which ought to be insisted upon
is that no instrument should be used for the operation which has not
been boiled or otherwise sterilised for the purpose, and that the simpler
the instrument employed the better.
(D.)—As to what means, other than Vaccination, can be used for diminishing
the prevalence of Smallpox, and how far such means could be
relied on in place of Vaccination.
(Par. 557.)—1. That common shelters, which are not now subject
to the law relating to common lodging-houses, should be made subject
to such law.
2. That there should be power to the Local Authority to require
medical examination of all persons entering common lodging-houses
and casual wards, to see if they are suffering from smallpox, and to
offer a reward for prompt information of the presence of the disease.