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formed in infancy appears to have a considerable modifying power
in connection with the disease. These statements have been
proved again and again in connection with the present epidemic.
What has to be realised to-day, however, is that a Sanitary
Authority must be prepared to fight an epidemic of Smallpox
without too much reliance upon vaccination and re-vaccination.
It is an uphill fight, but that it can be done will be admitted after
the perusal of this Report. It is unfortunate that it has to be
done, as compulsory vaccination and re-vaccination rapidly stamp
out Smallpox, though the days of compulsion in any shape or form
are rapidly passing away, and the action of the future must be
based on non-compulsion—at least as far as vaccination and
re-vaccination are concerned.
As showing the value of recent re-vaccination as an absolute
preventative against an attacK of Smallpox, the following details
(small though they be), as to the Lambeth official staff, are
interesting:—
Details as to the Lambeth Protected. Staff.
At the commencement of the epidemic, the members of the
Staff (disinfecting men, inspectors, strippers, sanitary clerks, and
others) who had not already been sufficiently protected by re-
vaccination or otherwise, were re-vaccinated by the Medical Offi-
cer with glycerinated calf lymph, and no single official has sickened
with Smallpox, although in several instances such officials were
in constant contact with infected persons and goods. The history
of the 2 temporary men who were engaged to strip for the Council
all the infected rooms, and who were successfully re-vaccinated
before commencing work, is especially interesting, as neither of
them contracted the disease, although they have stripped, during
the epidemic, 322 Smallpox-infected rooms. In other districts,
strippers, unprotected by previous recent vaccination, have caught
the disease. So, too, the disinfecting men, who have dealt with
the Smallpox-infected bedding and clothes from the infected
houses, have escaped the disease, having been recently and effi-
ciently re-vaccinated.
The Medical Officer of Health and the Inspectors, who must
often have come in contact with Smallpox-infected persons and
goods, have also escaped, being efficiently protected against Smallpox
by re-vaccination.
These statistics, when compared with those for certain other
Metropolitan Boroughs, where similar precautions as to re-vaccina-
tion were not taken, are most satisfactory. A Sanitary Authority,
which does not protect by re-vaccination its officials against con-
tracting Smallpox,is blameworthy, and the Lambeth Borough
Council is, in this respect, fortunately blameless—a statement that
cannot bemade with respect to other neighbouring Boroughs.