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Vaccination Acts, of 1867 and 1871. It only needs further to be
mentioned that in the "two periods of ten years immediately
preceding 1871, 59 and 54 per cent., or more than half,
of the total small-pox mortality, was borne by children under
five years old," whilst ''now only 28 per cent., little more
than a quarter of the total small-pox mortality, falls upon
such children."
Animal Vaccination—Calf Lymph.—A common objection
to "arm to arm" vaccination is based on the fact that the
lymph is passed through the human system, and therefore, it is
said, may transmit disease : the dangers attending the use of
humanised lymph, however, are so trifling as to be practically
inappreciable. Nevertheless, and as it is desirable to remove, as
far as possible, every obstacle to vaccination, it is satisfactory to
know that the Local Government Board have made arrangements
to give people the option of having their children vaccinated
with calf-lymph at the public vaccination stations. The
Government, moreover, will supply medical practitioners with
"stock" lymph to enable them to start a series of vaccinations,
leaving them to keep up their supplies afterwards—if they can.
The use of animal lymph is common on the Continent, and the
system has been carried to great perfection at Brussels under
the direction of M. Warlomont. who sends supplies of lymph to
this country regularly, and whose tubes and charged ivorypoints
can be purchased at a moderate rate. A station, moreover,
has been established by a private medical practitioner in
the Marylebone Road, for the supply of calf lymph, and where
persons can be vaccinated direct from the calf.
SANITARY WORK.
Tables VI and VIa (Appendix) summarise the chief items of
Work done by the Sanitary Inspectors during the year. A not
inconsiderable part of their work, however, scarcely admits of
tabulation, many sanitary amendments being carried out at their
instance, and under their supervision, without recourse to forms