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SMALL-POX.
21
In response to the letter the names and addresses of a very large number of children were
communicated to the Medical Officer of Health, and by him forwarded to the Vaccination Officer.
Many of the teachers also underwent re-vaccination, hut no returns are available to show the
number done.
In September, the London School Board adopted the following resolution:—
" That facilities be given to the Public Vaccination Officers of the Metropolis, on the
application of the proper Local Authority, to enter the Schools of the Board in infected areas,
for the purpose of examining the arms of the children, with a view to advising the parents to
allow their children to be vaccinated, provided that the School Board issue a circular to the
parents of the children asking if they have any objection to this examination, and, in case of
such objection in any particular case, that such examination shall not take place; and that
the Local Government Board and the Public Vaccination Officers be informed accordingly."
If the Board had simply resolved to furnish facilities for the inspection of children, and left
the Local Authorities to make the necessary arrangements, much good would probably have
resulted. The issue, however, of the circular mentioned in the resolution, of which circular the
following is a copy of the material part, had the result of withdrawing from inspection just those
children that it would be desirable to get hold of, viz., the unvaccinated. Moreover, if the Board
had left arrangements in the hands of the Local Authorities, the examination or inspection would
probably have been made by the medical officers of health with the assistance of other medical men,
and to that very little, if any, objection would have been raised. As the resolution was framed,
the Vaccination Officer—a layman—was the only person the teachers were authorized to allow to
examine the children. The plan adopted with the Voluntary Schools is to be greatly preferred to
that of the School Board.
SCHOOL BOARD FOR LONDON.
School Management Committee.
24th September, 1901.
The London School Board have decided, on the request of the Local Sanitary Authority,
to allow the Vaccination Officer to visit the School which your child is attending. He will
examine the arms of those children whose parents do not object, in order to see whether
they have been vaccinated, and, if necessary, to advise the parents. If you object to your
child being examined, please sign the accompanying statement, and send it at once to the
Head Teacher.
G. H. CROAD,
Clerk of the Board.
I object to my child (or children) being examined by the Vaccination Officer.
Signature of Parent or Guardian
September, 1901.
With regard to those who have been in contact with cases, not only did the officers of the
Department keep them under observation until there was no danger of further cases, but the
medical officers of health of other districts were advised of any who, known to reside or work
in or outside the Borough, had been in contact with cases within. Acting on the initiative of
the Medical Officer of this Borough, the Metropolitan Branch of the Incorporated Society of
Medical Officers of Health asked the Medical Officer of Health of the County to undertake the work
of transmitting information of each case to all the medical officers of health within the Metropolis.
A system is now in force by which particulars of each case are sent to the Medical Officer of
Health of the County and by him distributed daily to each of the Metropolitan officers. The
Asylums Board also send out each week a return containing brief, often too brief, notes of each case
admitted to the Board's Hospitals.