§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether the circular letter recently issued by the Local Government Board for Scotland enjoins the compulsory vaccination of all pauper children who do not exhibit satisfactory marks of primary vaccination, and will he say whether medical officers of poor-houses are required to examine the vaccination marks of all pauper inmates of poorhouses, and to revaccinate when that course seems desirable; and will medical officers be instructed to keep a record of the number of inmates examined and the number revacccinated.
MR. SCOTT DICKSONI am informed that the object of the circular was to secure that all the inmates of poorhouses should be vaccinated, but the circular does not enjoin the compulsory vaccination of the class of children referred to; it recommends, but does not require, that medical officers of poorhouses should examine paupers on admission with regard to the adequacy of their protection against smallpox; it does not require compulsory revaccination. The Local Government Board have not instructed the medical officers of poorhouses to keep a record of the number of inmates examined, and the number revaccinated; and they prefer in the meantime to leave this to the discretion of poor house committees.