§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSON (on behalf of Mr. Lupton)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he contemplated any alteration in the compulsory law of vaccination, so as to give immunity from prosecution to parents who object to having their children's blood inoculated with calf lymph?
§ Mr. CHERRYMy right hon. Friend cannot undertake to introduce legislation on the subject.
§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSON (on behalf of Mr. Lupton)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the Irish Local Government Board guaranteed the lymph issued from the Vaccine Institute, Ladymount, Dublin, to be absolutely pure and free from extraneous germs; and if it would undertake to issue a certificate of its purity to dispensary officers?
§ Mr. CHERRYThe Local Government Board inform me that the glycerinated calf lymph procured by them under contract from the National Calf Vaccine Institute, Sandymount, Dublin, is, before issue from the Board's Vaccine Depart- 182 ment, tested as to its efficiency, and subjected to careful bacteriological examination. Its purity is thus insured. The Dispensary Medical Officers throughout the country being aware of these arrangements to secure proper lymph, a further certificate of the purity appears to the Board to be unnecessary.
§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSON (on behalf of Mr. Lupton)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he was. aware that a child named Ellen Cullen, of Enniscorthy was vaccinated by Dr. Douze on 27th September, 1908, or somewhere about that date, and that after vaccination it suffered from a dreadful skin rash that spread from the seat of vaccination, subsequently causing its death on 22nd November; whether the guardians of the poor had demanded an inquiry into all the circumstances; and, if so, whether he intended to hold an inquiry?
§ Mr. CHERRYIn December last year the Guardians of Enniscorthy Union requested the Local Government Board to hold an inquiry, with a view to ascertaining whether the death of Ellen Cullen was due to vaccination. The Board communicated with the doctor who had performed the vaccination in September last, and were informed by him that shortly after vaccination the child got chicken-pox, which was at that time prevalent in the neighbourhood; that when nearly well she suffered from a very severe attack of eczema; that the combined trouble and resulting exhaustion proved fatal to her; that she had been vaccinated with lymph: obtained from the Board's Vaccine Department, and that the vaccination was normal and had nothing to do with the subsequent complaints. The Board forwardad a copy of the doctor's explanation to the guardians, who took no exception to the opinion he expressed. I see no reason for holding an inquiry.