View report page

21
Fortunately there was no increase in the number of cases
and the foundations for the Hospital were alone completed.
These will remain in good order for many years, and residents
may congratulate themselves that this District stands almost
alone among the districts of the outer zone of London in being
able, within about 4 days, to take the most important step of
completely isolating the first few cases—no matter what their
ages—whenever the health and interest of the district are again
threatened. This provision is a very positive gain to the
District for it almost furnishes a guarantee that we shall be able
to successfully cope with the danger of Small-pox spread when it
once again presents itself. The actual cost of the outbreak was
between jQ60 and £70. I made an unsuccessful attempt to
induce a few neighbouring Authorities to combine, with the view
of providing a small permanent structure for Small-pox isolation.
The necessity for such provision is growing and will continue to
do so ; for with the increased facilities of communication with the
Metropolis, and with the growth of the number of residents who
daily visit the City, the risks of imported infection to these
outlying districts grows greater year by year.
These 9 cases of Small-pox, like each of the others that I
have from time to time investigated, testified to the value of
vaccination—a value which any one whose actual experience
qualifies him to judge has never questioned. It was the old
story; those who had not been vaccinated suffered from a severe
attack, and in others who had been vaccinated the attack was
remarkably mild. Efficient vaccination is a duty which should
be recognised by those who live in the midst of crowded
communities, and in my opinion some of the grievous harm of
anti-vaccination literature should be met by setting forth some of
the facts in support of vaccination (and they are convincing
enough !) on a small printed slip which might be given to parents
at the same time as the vaccination notice is sent by the
vaccination officer. In many respects it would be advantageous
if the administration of vaccination were under the Sanitary
Authority rather than remaining under the Poor Law.