HC Deb 24 March 1893 vol 10 cc1038-9
MR. PICTON (Leicestor)

In the absence of the hon. Member for the Middleton Division of Lancashire, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board what porportion per cent. of the children in Batley and neighbourhood were vaccinated prior to the recent epidemic; and whether vaccination had been discontinued, so as to render it fallacious to make comparison of deaths of unvaccinated with those of vaccinated children?

DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he can state how many unvaccinated children have died of small-pox during the recent epidemic at Batley, a well-known centre of the anti-vaccination movement; and whether any vaccinated children have died of that disease?

THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir W. FOSTER,) Derby, Ilkeston

The Vaccination Returns for 1892 have not yet been received; but it appears that in 1891 the number of children born in the borough of Batley was 842, of whom 142 died unvaccinated. Of the remaining 700 the number successfully vaccinated was 553. The Local Government Board have no definite information as to the extent to which vaccination has been discontinued since 1891.

MR. PICTON

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether he can state how many vaccinated children have died of smallpox in Warrington and Manchester, well-known centres of perfect vaccination; and whether he will lay on the Table the Reports which have been made by special medical officers deputed to make inquiries concerning small-pox outbreaks at Warrington Manchester, and other towns with special reference to the influence of vaccination?

SIR W. FOSTER

The Local Government Board have no definite information as to how many vaccinated children have died of small pox in Warrington and Manchester. As regards the inquiries by special Medical Inspectors, those inquiries are undertaken not by the Board, but on behalf of the Royal Commission on Vaccination. The Reports on these inquiries will, no doubt, be included in the Report of the Commission.

MR. PIERPOINT (Warrington)

Is there any reason for believing that Warrington was, before the small pox epidemic, in good sanitary condition? Will the hon. Gentleman lay on the Table any Reports and statistics, supplied to him by the Officer of Health, as to vaccination and re-vaccination?

SIR W. FOSTER

I must ask for notice of that question?