HC Deb 21 March 1892 vol 2 cc1336-8
MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he has yet received the official Report of the medical officer of the Local Government Board concerning the series of fatal and other injuries following vaccination, in the County of Norfolk, in the months of March and April, 1890; whether the same will be printed and published in the usual manner, and in accordance with such precedents as those of the injury cases at Misterton in 1876, Norwich in 1882, Sudbury in 1886, New Humberstone in 1889, and others; and whether Mrs. Whiting, mother of one of the fatal cases, has since been prosecuted and fined for the non-vaccination of another child?

Mr. RITCHIE

The Report of the Inspector, by whom the inquiry referred to was made, was received in May, 1890, and was on the same day forwarded to the Royal Commission on Vaccination. It is proposed to leave it to the Commission to determine whether the Report of the Inspector shall be published in connection with the Report of the Commission. As regards the child of Mrs. Whiting, I find that George Whiting has been proceeded against since for the non-vaccination of a child, and that a nominal penalty of 1s., without costs, was imposed, and was at once paid.

MR. CHANNING

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the inquest held on 10 March on the body of Louisa Hunt, aged four and a half months, in which the jury returned a verdict of "Death from septicæmia following vaccination"; whether he is aware that the deceased was vaccinated at the station at Lamb's Conduit Street; whether the lymph employed was the pure calf-lymph supplied by the Government; whether the Royal Commission on Vaccination has been advised of the case; whether any independent medical examination had been made at the instance of the Commission; and whether he will recommend the introduction, at the calf-lymph station, of a fresh supply of pure lymph direct from the cow?

Mr. RITCHIE

My attention has been called to the inquest in the case of the child Louisa Hunt, and the verdict of the jury. The deceased child was vaccinated at the station at Lamb's Conduit Street on the 9th February last. She was vaccinated directly from the calf, and the lymph was pure calf-lymph cultivated by the Government. The first intimation the Local Government Board had of the case was the receipt of the certificate of the Registrar of Births and Deaths after the inquest had been held. The Board, on the 14th inst., informed the Royal Commission on Vaccination of the certificate which had been received. I learn that the Commissioners had no knowledge of the case until after the inquest had been held and it was impossible to have a medical examination of the body. They are, however, inquiring into the case. The Board are aware of no reason for introducing other pure lymph direct from the cow than that at present cultivated at Lamb's Conduit Street Station.

MR. SUMMERS

Do I understand the Local Government Board to guarantee the purity of the lymph supplied?

Mr. RITCHIE

Yes, Sir. The Local Government Board guarantee that the lymph supplied is pure calf-lymph.