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28
Smallpox.—Three cases of this disease were notified during the year
Two of these were in tenement houses, while the third occurred in the
dwelling quarters of large business premises. Some 130 contacts of cases
occurring outside the City were visited during 1932. Many employers
controlling large staffs deem it wise to exclude contacts during the incubation
period, and in many instances this has proved to be a justifiable
procedure, as some of these have in due course developed this disease
The prevalent type of smallpox being a mild infection causes but slight
illness and the sufferer is inconvenienced only by his removal to hospital
and exclusion from work. It entails, however, considerable work for the
staffs of public health departments, and much expenditure for hospital
fsolation. On these grounds, therefore, measures such as the exclusion
of contacts by reducing the possibilities of the spread of the infectior
have a decided economic value.
Vaccination.—The Vaccination Officer states that the following
number of persons were vaccinated by the Public Vaccinators during the
yeaPrimary 512
Secondary 31
These figures do not include vaccinations and re.vaccinations done
by private practitioners. No vaccination was done by the Medical
Officer of Health under the Public Health (Smallpox Protection)
Regulations, 1917. The report of the Vaccination Officer is given below
in the form of tables prescribed by the Ministry of Health in the
Vaccination Order.
Much is being said as to the falling off of infant vaccination throughout
the country, owing chiefly to the facilities for making declarations
of conscientious objection. It is often quoted that less than 40% of
infants born are vaccinated. In Westminster at any rate there should
be good grounds for satisfaction. An intelligent population provides at
least 61% of infant vaccinations and the City continues to be remarkably
free from smallpox.