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viously, shows also the necessity for periodical examinations
of this kind.
Dr. Aldis, having been told that three children, residing
in Belgravia, aged seven, six, and four respectively, had never
been vaccinated, called upon the parents, and tried to persuade
them to have the operation performed; but they obstinately
refused. It was useless to tell them that they were liable
to penalties under the Vaccination Act, and that their
children might be dismissed from the school (St. Paul's).
He then determined to take proceedings, but it appeared
upon further inquiry, that the births of two of the children
had never been registered, and with regard to the other,
whose birth had been duly registered, no evidence could be
adduced as to whether a notice for vaccination had been
given or not, so that he was powerless.
It is true that the children have been dismissed from
the school, but they may be the means of spreading a
loathsome disease, which the Medical Officers of Health are
striving hard to eradicate. Why should not a notice from
the Medical Officers of Health, under an amended Act, be
sufficient ? *
It would be very desirable that the registration of births
should be made compulsory.
typhus fever.
Typhus fever was very prevalent in London; we, therefore,
made particular inquiry about it, and took every
precaution to prevent its extending. The table shows
that 22 deaths, 3 of which were those of non-parishioners,
occurred in the parish from that disease. In the
* See the Times, Dec. 9, 1863.