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17
were 28. In the previous fortnight the deaths in London from small pox
were 23. During the first sis months of the year 1870, no deaths from
small pox were registered in this District, and only 24 cases were attended
by the Medical Officers of the Union, 12 of which were attended by
care of Dr. Swyer.
The disease had been epidemic in Paris for several months, where
vaccination is very much neglected, before it appeared in this country, so
that, having had due warning of its probable approach, we ought to have
been better prepared to protect the inhabitants of London from its deadly
effects. The great question, however, which concerns us is how to render
the population more secure against the fatality of this disease, both in the
present time and in the future. For this purpose, it will be necessary for
the several local boards to adopt such measures without delay as will ensure
the vaccination of the unvaccinated, and then to seek to obtain such alterations
in the existing laws, relating not only to vaccination, but to the Act
relating to the registration of births, so that hereafter we may be able to
obtain the vaccination of every child who may survive its third month.
As this is a question of such vast importance, and of such difficulty, I have
sought the assistance of my friend Mr. Vallance, the Clerk to the Board
of Guardians, who has had a very large experience in the practical working
of the Vaccination Act, and in reply to my request, Mr. Vallance, in the
subjoined Letter, has expressed his views upon the defects in the existing
Acts of Parliament relating to vaccination, and has made extremely valuable
suggestions for the amendment of those Acts.
"Whilst, however, your Board is making arrangements to mitigate the
sufferings occasioned by the present epidemic of small pox, and to arrest its
progress, it may be desirable to ascertain, from the statistical returns of the
Registrar General, the duration of the preceding epidemics of this disease.
From these returns', it appears that the epidemic of small pox, which commenced
in 1838, continued for about 14 months; that in 1844, about 14
months; that in 1848, about 16 months; that in 1852, about 19 months;
that in 1855, about 29 months; that in 1859, about 26 months; and that in
1866, about 28 months. As the present epidemic has manifested greater
severity, both in the number of cases and in the mortality, than in any of
the preceding epidemics, during the last 40 years, it may be expected that
it will continue its ravages for a longer period than any of the preceding
visitations.
My Deak Sir,
The interesting discussion to which 1 had the privilege of listening by
your kind invitation at the Scottish Hospital on Saturday evening, upon a paper read
by Dr. Barnes, suggests to me the possibility that I may be able to offer to you in
writing a few practical observations upon the working of the Vaccination Act of
1867 which may prove not entirely valueless, especially in view of the adjournment
of the discussion.