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15
I consider that the transference of vaccination
from the Guardians to the Sanitary Authorities, on
whom all measures for the prevention of disease and
control of epidemics devolve, would be an advantage.
It has been advocated that vaccination should
cease to be compulsory and be left to the free choice
of parents. If no penalty were attached to the failure
to vaccinate it is certain that a large number of
children would remain unvaccinated, simply from
neglect on the part of their parents to incur the trouble
involved.
They conclude "that the marked decline of smallpox
mortality in the first quarter of the present
century affords substantial evidence in favour of the
protective influence of vaccination."
Improved Sanitation and Smallpox.
The majority of the Commissioners point out that
those who are opposed to vaccination suggest that
improved sanitary conditions are mainly responsible
for the decline of smallpox.
The Commissioners conclude that when all the
changes in sanitary conditions which have taken place
are considered, it cannot be asserted that they afford
an adequate explanation of the diminished mortality
from the disease.
Isolation.
It has been maintained that the decline in smallpox
mortality is largely due to more frequent and
systematic attempts to isolate those suffering from
smallpox. I think however that an answer to this
contention is to be found in the fact that it is only in