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15
In an excellent pamphlet just issued by the British Medical Association,
"Facts about Small-pox and Vaccination and the Lesson of a Hundred Years
"of Vaccination in Europe," the following passage occurs:—
"England did not begin obligatory vaccination till the law of 1853—
"Statistics begin in 1838—and it was better enforced by the law of 1871
"(the epidemic years are 1871-2). Both laws were unfortunately left to
"the Guardians of the Poor to administer."
A Conference of Representatives of the Sanitary Authorities of the
Metropolis, convened by the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn,
was held on the 7th February, at the Offices of the Metropolitan Asylums
Board, on the Embankment, for the purpose of considering whether the
measures at present adopted in dealing with outbreaks of Small-pox can be in
any way improved. Mr. B. M. Hensley, Chairman of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, welcomed the delegates. He reminded them of some of the
figures contained in the report presented at a recent meeting of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board as proving the value of vaccination and
re-vaccination, and said it was a regrettable fact that among the patients in
the present epidemic there were a number of officials of sanitary authorities
who had failed to adopt the precaution of re-vaccination. Professor Smith
was elected to the chair, and various resolutions were afterwards proposed.
After considerable discussion, the following, submitted on behalf of the
Borough of Holborn, were agreed to:—(a) "That in the opinion of the
"Conference the powers and duties at present vested in Guardians of the Poor
"with regard to vaccination and re-vaccination should be transferred to and
"enforced by Borough Councils." (b) "That in the opinion of the
"Conference an amendment of the law is necessary to ensure compulsory
"vaccination and re-vaccination of all persons (who have not been vaccinated
"within five years) in a dwelling-house wherein Small-pox has broken out."
(c) "That in the opinion of the Conference it should be declared an offence
"under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to refuse or withhold
"information, or give false information, with respect to persons living in a
"house in which Small-pox has broken out, with regard to (a) their names,
"(b) employment or occupation, (c) schools attended by their children, or
"(d) as to any persons not living in such house but employed therein." (d)
"That in the opinion of the Conference the provisions of the Public Health
"(London) Act, 1891, with regard to the prevention of infectious diseases,
"require amendment by (a) shortening the period of 24 hours, allowed by
"Section 60, for the master of a house to decide whether he will undertake
"the disinfection or allow the Sanitary Authority to do so, and (b) extending
"the provisions of Section 63 to the taking of any house, or part of a house,
"by a person suffering from an infectious disease, or who has been exposed
"to infection." (e) "That in the opinion of the Conference all disinfections
"should be carried out by the Sanitary Authority."