I am indebted to Mr. Shattock, the energetic Vaccination Officer, for the
interesting particulars contained in Table IX, (Appendix), on the
important subject of Vaccination. From it we learn that during the year
4,357 births were returned to him by the sub-district registrars, and
that the successful vaccinations numbered 3,588. Twenty-three infants
were certified as insusceptible of successful vaccination; in 74 cases
the postponement of vaccination was sanctioned by medical certificate on
account of the state of health, &c.; 27 children were removed to other
districts, the vaccination officer of each district being duly apprized
of such removal; 9 cases were still under proceedings (at the date of the
report), by summons or otherwise; while 464 children died unvaccinated.
The cases unaccounted for—either through the removal of the children to
places unknown, or which cannot be reached, and cases not having been
found—amounted in all to only 172, or a fraction below 4 per cent. of the
total births—a result that must be considered very satisfactory, highly
creditable to the vaccination officer, and, I would add, to the Board of
Guardians; while I can hardly believe it has been surpassed in any other
district of the Metropolis.
The Guardians have lately (August, 1875) prosecuted successfully a
non-qualified practitioner for signing Vaccination Certificates. A
penalty of Ten pounds was inflicted; the offence with which the defendant
was charged being that of “falsely pretending to be registered” under the
Medical Act, none but registered practitioners being qualified to sign
Vaccination Certificates.