§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board with reference to the three cases of injury resulting from vaccination performed by Dr. Cossham of Cirencester, on which the Local Government Board medical inspector reported, if the chancres produced by vaccination were those of simulating syphilis; and if the Local Government Board will send the Reports to Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, F.R.C.S., for his opinion.
§ MR. JOHN BURNSThe three cases referred to were all vaccinated with calf lymph, and I am advised that it is impossible to communicate syphilis by means of calf lymph. The medical inspector who, however, saw the children some months after the vaccination, states that the scars of the sore places bore no resemblance to chancres, and, from the date of the origin of the complication, it is clear that it was caused by accidental contamination of the sore places which took place a considerable time after vaccination had been performed. I see no sufficient reason for adopting the course suggested in the last part of the Question.
§ MR. LUPTONDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman will not submit the Reports to Dr. Hutchinson, who is a great authority on syphilis?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have nothing to add to my Answer.
§ MR. LUPTONHas it not been shown that syphilis is produced by calf lymph?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI am otherwise advised.
§ MR. ESSEXHas the right hon. Gentleman not received information that the locality in which this child lived was in an extremely insanitary condition?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSYes, I stated that last week.
§ MR. LUPTONAnd has the right hon. Gentleman asked the vaccinator not to vaccinate cases in insanitary neighbourhoods or dwellings?
§ *SIR W. J. COLLINSCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House any information as to the original source of Government calf lymph?
§ MR. JOHN BURNSI have nothing to add to the interesting correspondence I had with my hon. friend last year on this subject.
§ *SIR W. J. COLLINSThat was rather negative.