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In the new vaccination return for the half-year ended June
30th, 1899, the total primary vaccinations throughout England
were no fewer than 355,987 as compared with 278 588 in the
corresponding half-year of 1898. This is equal to an increase
of 27.78 per cent.
Speaking at a recent dinner of the Association of Public
Vaccinators, Mr. Chaplin said he was bound to admit that
during the hot weather the lymph became inefficient when
removed from cold storage and brought into the warmth.
Abroad, the same difficulty had occurred, so that foreign
vaccinators had suspended vaccination during the summer.
With regard to the Vaccination Act of 1898, he stated that the
passing of the Bill had had results which every one who
favoured vaccination must regard as very satisfactory. He
attributed the good working of the Act mainly to three
things, viz.:—
(1) Firstly, to the efficiency, tact and judgment with
which the public vaccinators had performed their duties.
(2) Secondly, to the fact that glycerinated calf-lymph from
healthy calves was now only used, which made people less
apprehensive.
(3) Thirdly and chiefly, that it was the duty of the
vaccination officer, when the guardians were opposed to
vaccination, to act without their authority.
He believed the Act of 1898 was proving a very distinct and
a very considerable success; and that, happily, even the
admission of the conscientious objector had been powerless
to spoil it.