HC Deb 19 October 1908 vol 194 cc753-4
MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if a medical officer, on behalf of the Local Government Board, has inquired into the cases of children vaccinated by Dr. Cossham, of Dyer Street, Cirencester, and if he ascertained that the result of the vaccination in the case of three or more children has been to cause terrible sores, eating the flesh to the bone; and if, in consequence of these and other similar cases, the quality of the lymph supplied by the Local Government Board has been changed.

MR. JOHN BURNS

Three instances at Cirencester which called for inquiry were investigated by one of the medical inspectors of the Local Government Board. In two of them the vaccination places were long in healing, but the symptoms were not of a serious character. A large number of children were vaccinated from the lymphs used in these cases respectively without any such symptoms, and the evidence indicates that in these two cases secondary contamination of the vaccination places occurred. In the third case there was deep ulceration at the site of vaccination. This, however, did not begin to show itself till subsequently to the ninth day after vaccination, and no adverse report has reached the Local Government Board in respect of any of the thousand or more children vaccinated from the same lymph as that used in this instance, although reports are required in each case. The home of the child was insanitary and overcrowded, and it appears to be clear that the vaccination places were secondarily infected by septic material. I am not aware of any need for changing the quality of the lymph issued by the Board.

MR. LUPTON

Has not the quality of the lymph been recently altered, and will the right hon. Gentleman issue instructions that vaccination shall not be performed in unhealthy places?

MR. JOHN BURNS

In no one department has absolute perfection yet been reached, and we try to improve on the best every day?

MR. CROYDON MARKS (Cornwall, Launceston)

Is the Department satisfied that in this case the unsatisfactory symptoms developed through the insanitary condition of the place?

MR. JOHN BURNS

Yes, our officers reported that the development was due to uncleanliness.