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51
That the pollution of the River Lee is far more intense than it was when
the Royal Commission of Inquiry was held in the year 1886, and is a
growing evil.
That nothing has been done to remedy it, and the banks of the river and
the land abutting thereon at the most polluted part of the said river has
recently been secured at a large cost and converted by the London County
Council into an extensive recreation ground.
Your Memorialists therefore pray your Honorable Committee in the
exercise of their powers to recommend the London County Council to take
immediate steps to secure the re-appointment of tho said Parliamentary
Committee of Inquiry.
Signed on behalf of the
Sanitary Committee op the Hackney Vestry,
(Signed) HENRY HULLAND,
Chairman.
VACCINATION AND SMALL-POX.
The table annexed is a summary of the returns of the vaccination
officers so far as they relate to Hackney for the years 1894-95.
It will be seen from this that out of a total of 6,095 births in the
year 1894, after deducting all of those vaccinated, deaths, removals,
and those postponed by medical certificate, there remained 3,263
unvaccinated—more than 53 % of the births. The year 1895 yields
6209 births, and an unvaccinated balance of 3706—more than 59 %
of the births.
In my report for the year 1894 I pointed out the danger of this
increasing neglect of vaccination. There are evidences of a recrudescence
of small-pox in London at the present time, and I have no
hesitation in saying that should the disease find a firm footing in
Hackney, with so many susceptible and unprotected persons in the
district, the results would probably be disastrous.
During the year the report of the Royal Commission, appointed
seven years before to investigate and report on the value of vaccination
as a preventive against small-pox, was issued. As this subject
is one which has caused a great amount of feeling and discussion, I
will not comment on the report, but, for the benefit of the members
of the Vestry, give as far as possible in the words of the report the
conclusions of the Commissioners.