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70 •
stations and the parish infirmary. Calf lymph was employed
when parents expressed the wish to have it. The revaccinations
at the stations and the infirmary were 526 in number.
Kensington still stands in a position superior to that of the
Metropolis, as a whole, for, as stated in the annual report of
the Local Government Board for 1896-97, the average of lost
cases in the metropolitan district so far back as 1894, was
20.6 per cent. The actual figures, showing loss, both for
town and country, as set out in the annual report of the
Board for 1896-97, are as follows:—

A bad look out truly; for it would appear that in 1894
one-fifth of the children born (and the proportion now is
probably as high as one-fourth) are without the protection
against small-pox afforded by vaccination.*
The New Vaccination Act.—In the last report some
account was given of the Vaccination Bill brought in by
the President of the Local Government Board.i The Bill
became law in a strangely altered form, and the Act, in
*Mr. Shattock informs me that false registration, i.e., wrong addresses entered
on the birth list sheets, is his greatest difficulty: the children cannot be. traced.
tUpon consideration of my monthly report (No. 3, March 30th) dealing with the
Bill, it was resolved to refer it to the Sanitary Commitiee with a view to their considering
the expediency or otherwise of taking action to raise the question as to the
transfer of the administration of the Vaccination Acts to the sanitary authority. The
Committee did not consider this point; but they expressed an opinion that it was
probable material alterations would be made in the Bill during its passage through
the House of Commons, and that it was, therefore, not desirable for the Vestry to
take any present action in regard thereto. They appointed a sub-committee to
watch the progress of the Bill and to report thereon if necessary, but the
sub-committee held no meeting.