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25/15, viz., 28..1 at 5/15 against 37.1 at 1/2 5/5 years, shows that at 15
years and above (if not before) there is an absolute necessity for
vaccination. The large proportion of cases in 1885 as compared
with those in 1884, and especially in 1881, show that
this necessity still exists, at any rate, to as great an extent as
in years gone by. It was the knowledge of this great increase
in the number of small-pox cases at this age period, that made
me press upon the Board the necessity for revaccination,
especially between 12 and 14 years of age. It will be noticed
that the percentage of population was 21.0 at 5/15 years of age,
against 20.4 at 1/2 5/5 years. The number of unprotected children
between 10 and 14 years of age, who were revaccinated in
1883 (770), at the expense of this Board, does not appear to
have exerted any appreciable effect in the spread of the disease
at this age period, and shows the necessity for a more extended
revaccination at these ages and of older persons. The revaccination
of those who are above 14 years of age can be paid
for by the Board of Guardians, and above 12 years of age when
small-pox is epidemic, but there is great difficulty in inducing
persons to apply to the public vaccinators unless special facilities
are offered them as regards both time and place. It is true that
revaccination is not a perfect protection against an attack of
small-pox, although it is in a very large majority of cases, but
an attack of small-pox itself is not a greater protection than
revaccination. I have attended several persons a second time
with small-pox, two of whom were deeply scarred in the first
attack, and yet died from the second.