View report page

53
Reference to Table II. will show the number of scholars
examined in the Board Schools of the Borough, together with those
found un-vaccinated. The total number examined was 12,890, and
amongst these 3,641 were found unvaccinated, which is equivalent
to a percentage of over 28. The percentage of un-vaccinated varied
considerably in the different departments of the Schools; in the
Boys' Department the un-vaccinated averaged 22.8 per cent. of
those examined, in the Girls' 20.5 per cent., and in the Infants'
45.19 per cent; the ages of the children in the Boys' and Girls'
Departments range from 8 to 15 years; the Infants' from 3 to 8
years. It is only during the last 8 or 9 years that vaccination has
been so much neglected. The uncertainty, arising from the appointment
of the Royal Commission on Small-pox, caused immediately
a slackness in the application of the Vaccination Laws by Boards
of Guardians, and a corresponding increase of indifference on the
part of the public; the nett result being that children grew up
without being vaccinated, and this neglect has continued up to the
present time.
In Table I. it may be seen that the number of refusals amounted
to 15,016. It may fairly well be assumed, that the percentage of
un-vaccinated amongst these is much higher, than amongst those
examined, because really, the objection to being examined could not
rise from the sentimental objection of the arm being bared, but
from the possible consequence arising from the discovery of an
un-vaccinated condition; and it was the opinion of several masters
and mistresses, that the majority of those, who declined to be
examined, were un-vaccinated. Now, deducting 12,893 which were
examined from the total on the roll of the schools, we get 18,100
children who were not examined. I am of opinion from the reason
above stated that at least 50 per cent. of these are un-vaccinated.
Now all of these children are over 3 years of age; and as to the
condition of the children in the Borough under 3 years with respect
to vaccination, I find from the Vaccination Returns for the last