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46
Hospital, which is not far from the Eastern boundary of Kensington
(Sloane Street), and that no grievance is alleged in the North
district, where the conditions are at the least as unfavourable as
in Brompton, and that in no part of London is infant vaccination
more universally practised than in Kensington, I have felt it my
duty to point out that there is something to be said in favour of
the plans adopted by the Vaccination Authorities, plans which must
in due time be judged by their success or failure.
In former annual reports it has been one of my most pleasant
duties to bear testimony to the successful working of the Vaccination
Laws in this parish, due to the loyalty of the Guardians,
and to the energy with which the Vaccination Officer, Mr. C.
Shattock, fulfils the onerous duties of his post. The testimony of
the Local Government Board, in respect to this officer's last
Report, proves that the high standard of former years is still
maintained.
In my last Report I referred, in a foot-note (at page 31), to
the results of a house to house visitation, and an inspection of
schools, which the Guardians had instituted with a view to the
discovery of unvaccinated children, and I now give the Report
of the Vaccination Officer thereon :—
"Two hundred and seventy streets have been canvassed, numbering
7,996 inhabited houses, populated by upwards of 21,000 separate families,
in which 290 unvaccinated children were discovered ; and from an
inspection of nine schools, containing 2,089 children, 60 were found
unprotected by vaccination, making a total of 350 cases.
" Notices were at once served on the parents or persons having custody
of such children, as to the requirements of the law. In many instances
attempts were made to evade the Act by removal, but on being followed
and again found they complied.
"Of the 350 cases above referred to, 303 have since been vaccinated,
and certificates sent in; 13 are now undergoing the operation; 27 are
certified as unfit from ill health, and the vaccination consequently has
been postponed, thus leaving four only of the 350 cases unaccounted for,
and in which I find legal proceedings necessary.
"The greater number of these children were born in other parishes,
and by migration into this district the officers of the district in which
they were born were evaded. Some were not registered, and others
falsely registered—it was therefore impossible to reach them, but by the
means adopted by your Board.
"The 27 certified as unfit from ill-health will be kept in view, and
the law enforced as soon as their state of health permits.
"It is to be regretted that the School Board for London should have
refused your application to inspect the children in their schools, inasmuch
as that would have been a certain means of reaching those whose
vaccination had been neglected. (October 10th, 1877.")
The subjoined Report refers to Vaccination in 1876, and must
be considered eminently satisfactory :—
"During the year, 4,519 births were registered; in 409 instances the
children died ere they attained the age of three months, or were in a fit
state of health to undergo the operation ; 24 are certified as