HC Deb 03 March 1902 vol 104 cc175-6
* MR. CORRIE GRANT

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to an inquest, before Dr. Danford Thomas on 31st January, into the death of Mr. Essex after vaccination; is he aware that Mr. Essex was vaccinated on the 15th of January, and died on the 26th from blood poisoning; whether the lymph from which he was vaccinated was supplied by the Local Government Board, and whether five other gentlemen vaccinated at the same time from the same lymph were seriously ill; whether the vaccination was from calf lymph, No. 1538; and whether anything is known of the history of this lymph.

MR. WALTER LONG

The answer as regards the first three points is in the affirmative. The jury at the inquest found that Mr. Essex died from "coma and septic meningitis, the septic condition occurring after vaccination, from some external infection, from natural causes." They added that they were "satisfied that the vaccination was duly and properly performed." By my direction one of the Medical Inspectors of the Local Government Board attended the inquest and subsequently made further inquiry into the matter, and he concurred in the view taken by the jury. I am not aware that any of the five other persons referred to were seriously ill as suggested. In only two of the cases does there appear to have been any trouble, and in both of these the inspector ascertained that the arm was healing satisfactorily. The lymph was from calf No. 1538, and was used in the vaccination of a large number of persons besides those mentioned, but no ill effects have been reported.

* MR. CORRIE GRANT

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of the Question—whether anything is known of the history of the lymph.

MR. WALTER LONG

I think I have given the history in answer to the Question.

* MR. COWRIE GRANT

No. The right hon. Gentleman has told us other persons were vaccinated from it, but he has not informed us of the history of the lymph.

MR. WALTER LONG

I know nothing of the previous history of the calf. All I know is that the lymph was properly taken, and I have told the hon. Member what were the effects of the vaccination with that lymph.

* MR. CORRIE GRANT

I will put another Question down on the Paper, in order to make my meaning clear.