View report page

4
A second death also occurred from importation of Small
Pox into a family residing in this parish. In this instance
the first case was a girl living in the West End, and she, as
in the other instance, was brought home to her family to be
nursed, before her disease was recognised. As soon as it was
known she was suffering from Small Pox, her three brothers
and a servant were re-vaccinated, but the same precaution
was not taken by her father or mother, the former of whom
appears never to have been vaccinated. Of this family the
four who had been re-vaccinated escaped from any illness at
all; the mother, who had been vaccinated in infancy, but
who had not been re-vaccinated, suffered from a mild attack
of Small Pox and recovered, and the father, who had never
been vaccinated, suffered from a severe attack of Small Pox
and died.
I have thought it desirable to dwell especially on these
cases as good instances of the behaviour of Small Pox among
vaccinated and unvaccinated persons, as showing the
absolute protection afforded by vaccination against Small
Pox. This cannot be too clearly recognised, and it is
particularly deserving of attention at the present time when
the outcry against the innocent operation of vaccination,
is increasing, and when the Government is showing a tendency
to relax the penalties attaching to disobedience of the
laws for enforcing it.
During the year some cases of Small Pox having occurred
in a post office, I brought this fact to the knowledge of the
late Postmaster General, and he was good enough to give
instructions, that in future all cases of infectious diseases
occurring in post offices, should be reported to the Sanitary
Department.
Great care has been taken by the late vaccination
officer, Mr. Jones, to inquire for unvaccinated persons in the
houses or neighbourhood where Small Pox was known to
exist, and I am convinced that this precaution has greatly
aided in preventing the occurrence of fresh cases.
To Mr. Jones I am indebted for the Vaccination Tables
which accompany this report. In them will be found an
account of the number of infants born, the number
vaccinated in St. Pancras from July to December, 1878, and
from January to June, 1879. It will be seen that 6.2 per
cent. of the total number of children born escaped vaccination.