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46
The following pamphlet was printed and circulated regarding
Small-pox:—
County Borough of East Ham.
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Warning SMALL-POX Warning
During the past two years a mild form of small-pox has been prevalent
in London (over 2,000 cases have occurred in neighbouring districts).
Up to the present time East Ham has been very fortunate, only 69
occurring in the Borough during 1930, but there is a danger of spread of
the infection.
The difficulty of control lies in the mildness of most of the cases,
many patients not consulting a doctor throughout the illness.
Although the present cases are of the mild form of small-pox, the
question has been raised as to whether vaccination is worth while for the
prevention of such a minor ailment.
It is important to note that not a single case has occurred in a person
who had been vaccinated during the previous ten years, and where it has
occurred in elderly persons vaccinated during infancy the attack has been
extremely mild, thus showing that vaccination does afford protection.
Investigation by the Ministry of Health has shown that one vaccination
mark, which practically causes no inconvenience, protects the
individual from this form of small-pox.
The public should realise that although the illness is mild, considerable
expense, owing to the necessity of isolation of the sufferers extending over
some weeks, and also those who have been in contact are in most instances
prevented from continuing their employment, often causing considerable
hardship through loss of wages.
The above facts surely point to the necessity of vaccination or revaccination,
which I advise for the protection of the residents of East Ham.
In those districts where vaccination has been previously neglected,
continued and occasional serious epidemics have occurred at great cost
to the Local Authority.
The risk of vaccination with one mark is negligible.
Town Hall,
East Ham.
WILLIAM BENTON,
Medical Officer of Health.