Mr. CHANCELLORasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the deaths of two children, aged twenty-two days and twenty-four days, in the Leigh workhouse on 23rd August, from convulsions caused by septic poisoning 1185W arising from vaccination with Local Government Board lymph; whether he has any official reports as to the efficacy of the protection of pauper children against the risk of contracting small-pox by a process which sometimes proves fatal; and whether he will now take steps effectually to prevent the practice of vaccinating children in workhouses except at the request of one of the parents?
§ Mr. BURNSI have received a report on this matter, from which it appears that the death in each case resulted from septic infection of the arm after vaccination, conveyed not by the lymph used in vaccinating, but probably by the accidental omission of suitable precautions in the subsequent treatment of the vaccinated arms. With regard to the efficacy of vaccination as a protection against small-pox, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Report of the Royal Commission on Vaccination issued in 1896. As to the last part of the question, I may refer him to an answer which I gave on this question on the 9th of last month.
§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that successful vaccination, as now carried out with attenuated lymph and strict aseptic precautions, leaves only very faint marks in a large majority of cases and sometimes no marks at all; and whether, in view of this modification in the character and size of the marks produced, he will direct that faint marks or no marks at all shall not continue to be regarded by medical officers of health and other official doctors as evidence of inefficient protection against small-pox?
1186W
(A.) UNITED KINGDOM. Date. Route mileage. Track mileage. Of track proper. Length of sidings reduced to single track. Total track mileage in equivalent of single track. Single. Double or more. Total reduced to single track. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. Miles. 31st December, 1906 … 23,063 10,252 12,811 38,872 14,032 52,904 31st December, 1907 … 23,108 10,263 12,845 39,013 14,145 53,158 31st December, 1908 … 23,205 10,279 12,926 39,316 14,353 53,669 31st December, 1909 … 23,280 10,284 12,996 39,622 14,350 53,972 31st December, 1910 … 23,387 10,315 13,072 39,851 14,460 54,311
§ Mr. BURNSI am advised that it is not correct to say that vaccination as now carried on leaves only very faint marks in a large majority of cases.