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18
In reply to No. 3 the following is the conclusion of the
Commission :—
A careful examination of the facts which have been brought under our
notice has enabled us to arrive at the conclusion that, although some of the
dangers said to attend vaccination are undoubtedly real and not inconsiderable
in gross amount, yet when considered in relation to the extent of
vaccination work done they are insignificant. There is reason further to
believe that they are diminishing under the better precautions of the present
day, and with the addition of the further precautions which experience
suggests will do still more in the future.
I have in my previous reports studiously avoided comment
on the question of vaccination, as it would have ill become me
to anticipate the result of the Commission, hut now that it has
become public property it is my duty to place its conclusions
before you. We have not been visited for many years past
by any serious epidemic such as that which has recently
occurred in Gloucester, Sheffield, and other towns, and this no
doubt is in a large measure due to the prompt isolation which
is practised in cities like London. But the evidence which
has been so carefully compiled by the Commission tends to
prove that Small Pox attacks the unvaccinated more readily than
the vaccinated. It is to be hoped, now that the Commission
who have heard the views of the most scientific men of the
day, and have called in evidence all that could be produced
both in favour of vaccination and against vaccination have
reported in favour of the former, that in the event of the
Legislature acting on the recommendations of the Commission
that whatever authority is responsible for the operation of the
Vaccination Act there will be a proper and uniform administration
of the Law. Of course, the views held and explained
by the minority of the Commissioners will receive due consideration
by Parliament.
Scarlet Fever.
This disease has been very prevalent during the year, 763
cases were notified to me ; in a large proportion the cases were
of a very mild type, so much so that there were only 38 deaths,
and it is this very fact which is so conducive to its spread, as
numbers of children whilst desquamating were allowed to