LORD NAASsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the increase of Smallpox in the Metropolis; and whether it is his intention to propose, during the present Session, any measure for the promotion of Vaccination?
§ MR. LOWE, in reply, said, the misfortune of the question of Vaccination was that in quiet times no trouble was taken about it, and it was only when disease appeared in all its horrors that applications were made to the Government for legislation, which, if ever so good in itself, must then be tardy and inefficient to meet the evil. This subject had engrossed the attention of the Government. The House was aware that there was already in existence a measure for compulsory vaccination. That measure was not, in all respects, satisfactory; but the fault connected with the present spread of smallpox was not so much attributable to the state of the law as to the neglect of the local authorities on whom devolved the working of it. Unfortunately, there was no law on the subject in Scotland. The question of providing a law for Scotland and amending that of England was under careful consideration.