§ Mr. BROADasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, during the years 1922, 1923 and 1924, the percentage of 652W fatal cases of small-pox occurring amongst the unvaccinated patients in the smallpox hospitals was less than that of the vaccinated cases; and whether he will make a statement as to the attitude of his Department, in view of the bearing of this circumstance on the claims made on behalf of vaccination as a mitigant of small-pox?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe facts are as stated in the first part of the question, but reference to the Reports of the Chief Medical Officer of my Department for the years in question will show that, of the 16 fatal cases amongst vaccinated persons, only one was under the age of 35, while of the 22 fatal cases amongst unvaccinated persons, seven occurred in infants under one year of age and six in children between the ages of one and nine. I may add that, of the fatal cases amongst vaccinated persons, only one had been revaccinated, and in this instance it was doubtful whether the case was one of small-pox. The remaining 15 cases had been vaccinated in infancy, but had not been revaccinated. In my opinion, these figures indicate the importance both of infantile vaccination and of revaccination at appropriate ages.
§ Mr. BROADasked the Minister of Health whether his Department has at any time carried out experiments with a view to ascertaining how frequently vaccination can be repeated on the same individuals; and, if so, will be publish the results, or alternatively, if no such experiments have been carried out, will he consider the desirability of arranging for them to be carried out with a view to ascertaining for what period vaccination affords protection against itself?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I have no authority to arrange for experiments of this kind, nor am I aware that they would serve any useful purpose.