§ MR. HOPWOOD (Lancashire, S.E., Middleton)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to an order by the Guardians of Wigton, Cumberland, that the child of an inmate of the workhouse should, in spite of the refusal 967 of the mother, he vaccinated; whether there is any authority by Law for such a proceeding; and whether he will communicate with the Guardians on the subject?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir W. B. FOSTER,) Derby, IlkestonI am informed by the Guardians of the Wigton Union that a fatal case of small-pox occurred at the workhouse on 3rd February, and that the child referred to had occupied a ward close to that in which the small-pox patient had died. The medical officer of the workhouse, under these circumstances, deemed it necessary that the child should be vaccinated. The mother objected, but the vaccination was authorised at an emergency meeting of the Guardians, and the child was vaccinated accordingly. Upon the facts stated, I have no doubt that the Guardians acted in the interests of the child, and of the other inmates of the workhouse; but in the opinion of the Local Government Board the children of the inmates of a workhouse should not be vaccinated when the parent objects, and the Wigton Guardians will he informed accordingly.
§ MR. HOPWOODIs there any law—I know there is not—by which vaccination can be performed if the parent objects?
§ SIR W. FOSTERThat is a question of law on which it is not for me to give an opinion; but my own opinion is that vaccination cannot be legally performed under the circumstances if the mother objects.