§ Mr. Viantasked the Secretary of State for War what instructions have been issued to Army medical officers by his Department in regard to the carrying out of vaccinations; whether intracutaneous, subcutaneous, or scarification methods are used; how many marks are produced; and how soon after a previous vaccination is re-vaccination considered to be necessary?
§ Captain MargessonThe more important points in the instructions which have been issued with regard to vaccination may be summarised as follows:
- (1) The individual must be in good health.
- (2) The skin over and around the site for vaccination should be cleansed.
- (3) The cleansed area must be allowed to dry thoroughly.
- (4) The vaccine lymph should be applied to this area before scarification is carried out.
- (5) Scarification should be made with a sharp-pointed scalpel, and should consist of a single linear incision one-quarter inch in length passing through the lymph. The incision should not be deep enough to draw blood.
- (6) Further scarification or energetic rubbing of the lymph into the incision
39 should be avoided as this tends to aggravate local reactions. - (7) The dressing recommended is elastoplast which should be applied after the lymph has been allowed to dry completely.
Vaccination is carried out by scarification, and one mark is produced. Re-vaccination is carried out at intervals of two, five or seven years following successful vaccination according to local conditions.