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7
That these efforts of district and central authorities
will shortly have a beneficial effect on public health cannot
be doubted, and we have every reason to believe that after a
few years small pox in England, as in Scotland and in some
continental countries, will be gradually and completely
annihilated. While the general supervision, which is
now proposed for small pox, will be much less necessary
then it is in the case of other contagious maladies.
As my duties have hitherto not extended beyond the
inspection of cases of defaulters, and to the insisting upon
vaccination being performed as the law directs, I have not
ventured upon any other details which this experience has
enabled me to comment upon. I have simply had in view
the object of legislation, viz.: that every child born in a
district should be vaccinated before it arrives at the age of
four months, or produce a certificate of temporary unfitness
for the operation. This has been done, and the results
duly recorded for the year. It will be seen that a certain
number of cases still stand over for re-inspection, they are
mostly exemptions 011 account of illness, or a delicate state
of health of the children, but they are greatly diminishing.
The records of inspection give strong testimony of a large
proportion of sickly children ; in the more densely populate
streets, and in houses of the poor, whooping cough,
bronchitis, teething, and eruptive diseases were the principal
maladies, from which many children were suffering. It
appears to me that early vaccination for the infantine population
of the lowest class of people is not so safely borne as
in the better sphere of society. I11 Scotland, however, early
vaccination is strongly recommended, and the success of
vaccination in Scotland is strongly marked.
I must mention, that with few exceptions the utmost
courtesy has been shown to me, and the inspector who
assisted me. Any friendly explanations calculated to
remove objections and prejudices were willingly listened
to, and promptly acted upon. Before the adoption of
threatened legal proceedings, it is best to explain what
grounds exist for legislative interference, and to give
reasons for making vaccination compulsory.