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126
'We can see nothing to warrant the conclusion that in this
country vaccination might safely be abandoned, and replaced by a
system of isolation. If such ?. change were made in our method of
dealing with Small Pox and that which had been substituted
for vaccination proved ineffectual to prevent the spread of the
disease (it is not suggested that it would diminish its severity
in those attacked), it is impossible to contemplate the consequences
without dismay (503).
'Power should, in our opinion, be conferred on Sanitary Authorities
to give compensation for loss of wages, and generally for
any expenses occasioned either by the isolation of the patients, or
persons who have come in contact with them, or such supervision
of them, a is necessary, whether in hospital or elsewhere (506).'
"As stated above, the Medical Officer reported that there was no
difficulty in feeding the contacts and keeping the accounts when the staff
of the Public Health Department was increased, but there was considerable
difficulty in effecting complete isolation of the contacts, and the
Committee will see that the Commission stated that they could see
nothing to warrant the conclusion that in this country vaccination might
safely be abandoned and replaced by a system of isolation."
The Public Health and Housing Committee reported to the Council
that they were of opinion the precautions taken in this case were sufficient,
and while the isolation of contacts may, in the case of epidemics, be
desirable, there is no authority to enforce it, and it is not practicable
to make voluntary isolation effective. At the time of the Small Pox
epidemic in 1901-2 the Local Government Board expressed the view that
quarantining of contacts was not necessary in Districts properly administered
as regards sanitation and vaccination, and that if actual patients
were at once removed, the dwelling and articles exposed to infection
properly disinfected, and the other inmates re-vaccinated or vaccinated,
there was nothing to be gained by keeping these inmates at home commensurate
with the expense involved; that these inmates were unlikely to
infect other people unless and urtil they themselves developed Small
Pox, and all that was necessary was to keep them under observation for
a fortnight.
The Public Health and Housing Committee recommended the
Council—
That the action of the Medical Officer of Health, in the case in
question, be approved.