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47
direct "contacts" belonging to the Lambeth notified cases,
whilst 6 arose in connection with the 739 outside "contacts"
belonging to cases notified outside Lambeth Borough,
and 1 in connection with the 133 visitors to the Smallpox
Hospitals. Full particulars as to the vaccination states of ail
"contacts" will be found under the heading of " Vaccination and
Re-vaccination "—the 4th preventive measure dealt with in this
Report. Suffice it to say, at this point, that the following
statistics tell the old well-known story as to the value of vaccination,
if not as an absolute preventative, at least as a modifier, of
Smallpox: —
"Contacts" (full totals).
Vaccination
states.
Number sick,
ening with
Smallpox.
Direct 4182
Outside 739
Visitors to Smallpox
Hospitals 133
3236 adults
946 children
677 adults
62 children
(all adults)
vacc. or
re-vacc.
unvacc.
vacc.
unvacc.
vacc. or
re-vacc.
unvacc.
vacc.
unvacc.
re-vacc.
vacc.
unvacc.
3199
37
873
73
677
0
62
0
116
18
0
100
9
13
12
6
0
0
0
0
1
0
N.B.— Unvaccinated persons vaccinated whilst under quarantine observation,
and vaccinated persons re-vaccinated whilst under quarantine
observation, are included under the headings "vaccinated" and
" re-vaccinated " respectively.
•Visitors are re-vaccinated before going into the Smallpox Hospitals unless
previously protected, or unless they conscientiously object.
Much difficulty has arisen in making enquiries concerning
Smallpox cases and "contacts" on account of the inaccuracy of
some of the statements made, not to mention reticence, or even
concealment of facts. The danger that may arise from persons
withholding necessary information must be apparent to all, and to
obviate such a danger it has been unanimously decided, at a Conference
of Metropolitan Sanitary Authorities held February 7th,
1902, that, in the opinion of such Conference, it shall be an
offence under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to refuse
or withhold information or give false information with respect to
persons living in a house in which Smallpox has broken out.
Such information has reference to names, employments, schools
attended by children, out-workers, etc. The Local Government
Board is to be approached with a view to promoting legislation
in this direction. Islington Borough Council brought the matter