London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Westminster 1898

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster]

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27
(6.)—In houses invaded by small-pox in the course of an outbreak
not nearly so many of the vaccinated inmates are
attacked as of the unvaccinated in proportion to their
numbers.
(7.)—The fatality rate among persons attacked by small-pox is
much greater, age for age, among the unvaccinated than
among the vaccinated.
(8.)—It cannot be truthfully alleged that independently of
vaccination small-pox is a milder disease now than in former
centuries.
(9.)—The degree of protection conferred by vaccination corresponds
to the thoroughness with which the operation has
been performed, three or four marks being much better than
one or two, and a large mark much better than a small one.
(10.)—Sanitation cannot account for the facts above set forth.
(11.)—Though isolation of small-pox cases in hospitals is a useful
auxiliary to vaccination it is no substitute for it.
(12.)—Vaccination is very safe.
(13.)—Calf lymph is now available to boards of guardians, etc.,
for the vaccination of every child in this country.
New Acts and Oedees, 1898.
Vaccination Act, 1898.
This Act received the Eoyal Assent on August 12th, 1898,
but with the exception of the " Conscience Clause " which
became law on that date (Section 2), the Act does not come
in force until January 1st, 1899. It will be in operation five
years, until January 1st, 1904, and apply to England only.
The chief alterations in the New Act are as follows
1. The period within which vaccination is to take place
is extended from three to six months.
2. The operation is to be performed, if required, in the
child's home.
3. Glycerinated Calf-lymph is to be used if possible.
4. The conscientious objector is not to be compelled to
submit his child to the operation.
5. A recalcitrant parent cannot be convicted more than
twice (e.g, once under each of the sections 29 & 31 of the
Vaccination Act, 1867).