London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1896

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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56
would be well that a warning on the subject should be addressed to such
persons. It has been the practice of some public vaccinators to take this
course. It is desirable that the practice should be universal, and that the
Local Government Board should settle a suitable form containing clear and
simple rules for guidance in the care of the vaccinated arm, and for the
avoidance of any likely source of injury or irritation of that part. If this
were done, untoward incidents might, we think, be largely diminished."
(443) . ... "If children were vaccinated and inspected, as a rule,
at their own homes, instead of being brought to a public station, we believe
the risk of injury would be sensibly lessened."
(445) "There can be no doubt that vaccination ought to be postponed
when erysipelas, scarlet fever, measles, or chicken-pox are prevalent in the
neighbourhood of the child's residence, or, if the child is not to be vaccinated
at home, either there or near the place of vaccination. Here again there
would be a gain if the home were more often the place of vaccination."
(446) "It would, in our opinion be an advantage if the postponement of
vaccination were expressly permitted, not only on account of the state of the
child, but of its surroundings, and any other conditions rendering the operation
at the time undesirable." ....
"If provision could be made in cases in which insanitary conditions
would cause risk to a child, if it remained at home whilst the vaccination
wound was unhealed, for its removal elsewhere during that period, we think
it would be desirable."
(447) "We think that the vaccination vesicles should not be opened
unless for some adequate reason. We have already said that in our opinion
the importance of this has been exaggerated, but the precaution is nevertheless
a wise one, and may be of use."
(448) 'We think that safety would be increased by preserving the lymph
in tubes, instead of on 'dry points.'" . . . .
(449) "Another precaution which ought to insisted on is that no instrument
should be used for the operation which has not been boiled or otherwise
sterilised for the purpose; and the simpler the instrument employed the
better."
"Care should be exercised, too, not to place the insertiions too near
together, so as to injure the vitality of the tissues between them."
(450) "We think the time at present fixed for inspection of the