View report page

15
and ill-vaccinated persons. But this cannot be the whole
truth; for we know but too well that though vaccinated
persons are almost exempt from small-pox, and that
even if they do catch small-pox, they are almost exempt
from death, yet that neither proposition is absolutely true,
either of those vaccinated, or of those who have had
small-pox. Hence we believe that a thorough eradication,
if possible, would be obtained, not by vaccination
alone, but by cleansing or pulling down old houses, and
getting rid of old wall paper, bedding and clothing, and
other accumulations, where the poison can lurk and break
out from time to time whenever the season suits it. In
inspecting the children of the various schools, for the
purpose of ascertaining the vaccination, we could not help
being struck with the painful evidence of personal uncleanliness,
of ill-conditioned and half diseased skins, and
of the odour of old garments, too decayed for strings
and buttons, but curiously pinned on and hidden by a
pinafore. It occurred to us, that if these children did
not have small-pox, they must have something else.
Now for our own operations in the matter: we may
say that by occasionally looking in at the schools, and
enquiring after the younger children, and keeping the
masters and mistresses in mind of their rules, that all
children shall be vaccinated before admission, there is no
possibility of the existence of unvaccinated children in
great numbers, or necessity for measures which bespeak
alarm or panic.
Early in January, by way of experiment, a list was
made, by permission of the Registrar General, of the
children born in the poorest streets and mews of May
Fair during 1859. A messenger was sent round to 98
families, with the result, that no fewer than 45 had left