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16
Zymotic Diseases.
The total number of the notifiable zymotic diseases was 1640
and the total number of deaths 407, giving a death rate of
3.6 per 1,000, rather less than during the last two years.
Small Pox.
I am pleased to say that the district has been practically
free from this disease during the past year, only one case having
been notified in this Hamlet, against 225 in London as a whole.
In common with some other districts, particular interest is
taken in this disease in Mile End Old Town, where opposition
to what is considered by competent authorities to be a great
protection against Small Pox has for some years been pronounced.
The Board of Guardians, which is the local
authority for administering the Vaccination Act, has adopted
the policy of allowing parents to exercise their own discretion
in regard to having their children vaccinated, with the result
that the proportion of the children vaccinated amounts to only
43 per cent., or much less than half of the births registered.
Most of you are aware that the Government some seven
years ago appointed a Royal Commission to investigate into the
effects of Vaccination, and at the end of this year the final
Report was issued. It is not my intention to traverse the
whole of this report, but in order that those members of the
Board who are not conversant with the subject should become
acquainted with it, I beg to state the object and duty of the
Commission was to report on the following five issues :—
1. To report on the effect of Vaccination in reducing the
prevalence of mortality from Small Pox.
2. What means, other than vaccination, can be used for
diminishing the prevalence of Small Pox; and how far such
means could be relied on in place of vaccination.
3. The objections made to Vaccination on the ground of
injurious effect alleged to result therefrom, and the nature and
extent of any injurious effects which do, in fact so result.