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25
ed: before the hearing of the case, he had complied,
but was condemned with costs. James Sykes was
summoned on the 30th June: He did not object to
vaccination, but required that the matter should be
taken from a cow, alleging that bad matter was
so often used by surgeons, that diseases were
produced. The magistrate stated that it was not
his duty to question the reasonableness of the law
which did not order vaccination from a cow, but
to see that the law as it stood was obeyed ; he must
therefore fine 5s. with costs for default. It is not
to be expected that Public Vaccinators will find
out un-vaccinated children when the remuneration
does not inspire that vigilance which is desirable.
Where a Vaccination officer is appointed it should
be his duty to see that every child in his district is
vaccinated before or about the age of six months,
or to ascertain by inspection the reason why delay
or neglect has taken place, and to enforce, if necessary,
this salutary law.
It is gratifying to know that adjoining parishes
are inclined to act in concert, for this is an essential
feature of success. That these efforts will be
beneficial to society no reasonable doubt can arise,
when we see that smallpox has already been
"stamped out" in some continental countries, and
that in Ireland and Scotland a gradual annual
diminution of deaths promises the same result.
My Report to the Board of Guardians on Public
Vaccination gives further details.