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16
This circumstance is in the highest degree satisfactory, giving promise of
a measure of security against the spread of Small Pox, greater than we
have heretofore enjoyed. It is not unreasonable to infer, that this
important extension of Vaccination is partly due to the spread of information
as to the sanitary danger and legal penalties incurred by the neglect
of Vaccination, aided by the zealous efforts of the Official Vaccinators.
Appended to my Report for 1862, is a copy of the hand-bill which was
largely placarded and circulated.
Very much may be done towards keeping up Vaccination to the point
of protecting the whole population, by ministers and others in authority
over schools insisting upon medical proof of Vaccination as a condition
of entry. It must however be borne in mind, that a simple statement
testifying that a child has been vaccinated, cannot be accepted as
evidence of protection. The scars ought to be submitted to the inspection
of a medical practitioner.
In a systematic investigation made by me of some schools in
Shoreditch, I found that not more than 60 per cent of the children
attending were fully "protected," although about 20 per cent. more had
been vaccinated.
The proper course would be to require every child seeking admission,
to present himself for inspection either to an Official Medical Officer of
the School, or to the Poor Law Surgeon of the district.
Fever.—During 1862, 206 deaths from Fever were registered.
Deducting 81, which occurred in St. Luke's Workhouse, there remain
125 cases to compare with 110 during 1863. During these two years
Fever has prevailed to an unusual extent in London. In previous
reports, especially those for 1861 and 1862, I have entered at some
length upon some of the many intricate questions connected with Fever.
It is only necessary to repeat that several diseases, essentially distinct in
character, are almost necessarily registered under this common designation.
The term is preserved in the Mortality and Sickness Tables, and
figures representing a variable number of deaths, are annually placed
under this head. But these figures do not maintain any constant definite
meaning. The returns of one year even, do not admit of being compared