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mechanism of vaccination, it may fairly be hoped that
the goal which is the desire of every sanitarian will in
time be reached, that of a vaccinized and therefore
protected population. To bring about this result may
be the business of a Department, to accomplish it
would be an effort worthy of the State. It is alike its
duty and its interest, and would carry with it its own
reward; inasmuch as the safety of a kingdom is not
in disconsolate homes, or in a population decimated
by the wars, pestilence or famine which an enlightened
and energetic legislature could prevent, but in the
happiness and "in the multitude of people" wherein
"is the King's honour."
Table VII., supplied by the Vaccination Officer,
Mr. Dudman, shows to what extent the law as regards
the vaccination of infants is carried out in Paddington.
Of the 186 infants returned as unvaccinated, in consequence
of their removal to other places, there is reason
to believe that only a fraction will eventually escape the
operation, as it is the duty of every Vaccination Officer
to look after, not merely the children born in his district,
but also those who may have been removed into it.
The "Supplemental Eeturn for 1876" shows, that
of the 2,905 children whose births were registered
during that year, 2,463 were successfully vaccinated;
and that of the remainder there were 142, or less than
5 per cent. of the total number, of whom the Vaccination
Officer could give no account. Iu Scotland and in
sparse populations, a smaller percentage of lapsed cases