§ 30. Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Victor Rands, aged seven years, of Parsloes Farm, Dagenham, who lost the sight of his right eye as a result of vaccination in October, 1930, by the public vaccinator; whether he is aware that Victor Rands was at the time under treatment for a septic knee; that the child's eye got steadily worse and the medical officer of health, when he saw the boy at the minor ailments clinic, recommended him to be taken to the Moorfields eye hospital; and whether he will have a thorough investigation made into this case?
§ Mr. GREENWOODMy attention has been drawn to this case, and I have already made inquiry into it. I am informed that the vaccination was performed by a public vaccinator on 22nd October, 1930, with the consent of the parents. The public vaccinator states that he found no physical reason on that date why the boy should not be vaccinated, nor did he observe any evidence of an affection of the eye when he inspected the vaccination on 4th November. It was not until 36 days after the date of vaccination that the boy was taken to the school clinic at Barking on account of his eye trouble. I am advised that the course of events is not consistent with the suggestions which have been made that the affection of 341 the eye was the result of vaccination or that vaccine entered the eye at the time of vaccination.
§ Mr. FREEMANIs my right hon. Friend aware that on the date on which the public vaccinator was to come in he did not actually attend, and that when he did attend neither of the parents was present; and will he say whether any medical examination of the child took place to show whether it was in a fit state to stand the result of the operation?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe public vaccinator is himself a medical man, and I shall accept his report.
§ Mr. FREEMANDid he make an inspection of the child, and did he find that there was a septic condition at the time?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI could not say without notice.
§ Mr. G. HARDIEIs the Minister of Health going to take steps to see whether medical evidence, or an examination of the child, can prove whether vaccination was the cause of the blindness?
§ Mr. GREENWOODIt is very difficult when an additional disability is discovered well after the expiration of a month after the vaccination to prove that the two events are connected.
§ 31. Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Health whether he has any report to make on the deaths of Peter Portia Furness, the four-years-old twins of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Furness, of South Wigston, near Leicester, who were both considered to be in good health, were vaccinated on 14th May, and died on 29th and 30th May, respectively?
§ Mr. GREENWOODThe circumstances of these cases have been inquired into by a medical officer of my Department, and pathological investigations are now in progress. I will communicate with my hon. Friend when the results are available.
§ Mr. FREEMANCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether Government lymph was used in this case, and, if it is used when a public vaccinator performs the operation? Can the right hon. 342 Gentleman say whether public vaccinations have now ceased in this area?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI am afraid I could not say without notice.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.