A report on vaccination and its results : based on the evidence taken by the Royal Commission during the years 1889-1897. Vol. 1, The text of the commission report.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on Vaccination.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A report on vaccination and its results : based on the evidence taken by the Royal Commission during the years 1889-1897. Vol. 1, The text of the commission report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    patient during liis illness ; such supervision to be carried out either in quarantine stations (away from the hospital) or at their own homes. 7. Closure of schools on the occasion of the occurrence of smallpox among the scholars or teachers. 8. Hospitals and quarantine stations to be comfortable and attractive, and so administered as to secure the confidence of the public. Hospital treatment to be free to all classes, and compensation to be ]Daid to those detained or otherwise inconvenienced in the public interest, at the public expense. 9. Tramps entering casual wards to be medically inspected, their clothing to be disinfected, and bath provided. The measures for detection and isolation of small- pox in common lodging-houses, suggested in Section 507 of the Report, to be carried out. 10. International notification of the presence of smallpox and special vigilance at seaports in communication with infected places, after the plan adopted in the case of cholera. 11. Attention to general sanitation—prevention of over- crowding, abundant water-supply, and frequent re- moval of refuse. Reference V.—Alterations in the Provisions of the Vaccination Acts ivith res])ect to Prosecutions for Non-compliance with the Laiv. 274. It must be obvious from what has been alreadv said that we necessarily consider the legal enforcement of vaccination ns inexpedient and unjust. We see no sufficient reason for withdrawing this particular medical prescription from the personnl option which attaches to all other medical prescriptions or surgical operations; we do not think that medicnl authority or advice is likely to gain in confidence or respect, by the adventitious aid of the police, and fine and imprisonment. But even if vaccination were a more effec- tive and trustworthy prophylactic than we hold it to be, we should still think the continuance of compulsion at the 31