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is calculated to prejudice the general public against the wise
compulsion authorised by law, it is well that the Government
have appointed a Royal Commission to inquire and report on
the subject, the anti-vaccinationists being represented thereon.
The final report of the Committee will be awaited with interest.
Animal Vaccination: Calf Lymph.—An objection to
"arm-to-arm" vaccination has been based on the fact that, as
the lymph is passed through the human system, it may become
the means of transmiting enthetic disease. This danger, however,
though by no means to be disregarded, appears to be slight,
and in practice almost inappreciable, seeing that Dr. Buchanan
states that he "cannot learn of communication of syphilis in
vaccination being actually effected once in a million of vaccinations."
Nevertheless, and it being desirable to remove every
impediment to the full acceptance of vaccination, it would be
satisfactory to know that the Local Government Board had
made arrangements for affording to parents the option of having
their children vaccinated with calf-lymph at the public vaccination
stations. This option has long been given at the stations in
Kensington, the Guardians having made arrangements for a
supply of fresh calf-lymph weekly, on the days appointed for
vaccination. The Government at present only supply medical
practitioners with "stock" lymph from the calf to enable them
to start a series of vaccinations. The use of calf-lymph is
common on the Continent, and the system of animal vaccination
has been carried to great perfection at Brussels, whence
regular supplies of lymph are forwarded to this country, tubes
and charged ivory points being procurable at a moderate price.
Stations, moreover, public and private, have been established in
London, at which persons can be vaccinated direct from the calf,
and supplies of vaccine obtained. Direct vaccination is highly
successful at the Government stations, an average of 988 vesicles
resulting from 1000 insertions of calf-lymph. "This rate of
success," Dr. Buchanan observes, "is nowise to be had when
the lymph" (human or animal) "is used in any preserved
condition.