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type: that so far as concerns isolation, they "see nothing to
warrant the conclusion that vaccination in this country might
safely be abandoned and replaced by a system of isolation," and
that if such a change were made "it is impossible to contemplate
it without dismay": and that, although they had proof that
certain dangers attend the present system, yet that " when considered
in relation to the amount of vaccination work done, they
are infinitesimal."
As regards other diseases, the preventive and precautionary
measures described in former reports have been pursued during
the past year. These involve visits and revisits to every
infected house, and the giving of advice as to the best means of
isolation and of preventing the spread of the disease. Altogether
1,250 visits were paid to infected houses by the Inspectors.
Enquiries are made into every case, particulars in accordance
with the form reproduced in the appendix are obtained,
and immediate notice is sent to any school attended by the
children of infected households. Disinfectants are issued free
of cost, the fumigation of rooms and disinfection by steam of
bedding and clothing are always carried out by officers of the
Council, except after cases of measles, and the subsequent
cleansing of dwellings is carried out by owners under their
supervision. The total number of articles disinfected by steam
was 2,293. No complaints of damage were made.
Medical certificates are required before the termination of
an infectious case is recognised, except in cases of diphtheria, in
which a bacteriological examination is made, and if no specific
bacilli are found, precautions are allowed to be relaxed, but not
unless. These examinations, which were commenced in 1895,
have been successfully continued, and have yielded good results.
Of course, the failure to find specific bacilli in a particular case
may be accidental, and does not absolutely prove their absence,
but I am satisfied that these examinations constitute an important
additional safeguard, and are to be recommended as an
eminently practical preventive measure.