VACCINATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1867, 29 September 1913, Page 7

VACCINATION.

'A l ' NEGLECTED SAFEGUARD,

"From the reports of the medical inBpeotors of schools," says the Inspectortfoneral of Hospitals in his annual rorrt, "it would appear that only some per cent, of the children examined have been vacoinated. Over and over again it has Been pointed out in tho annual and other reports of the Department that the only efficient safeguard against _ smallpox is vaccination and revaccination.

"Inseparable from tho responsibilities of our increasing commerce l's the danger of seaborne disease. Every year this country, gets in closer touch with the Eastern, arid, other countries where smallpox is endemic, and it is only a question of time before an epidemic of this disease will be introduced by an ■unrecognised case or from infected material. With a population unprotected against tho ravages of the disease, the developments following the introduction of an unrecognised; case of smallpox in our more thickly populated centres can bettor be imagined , than desoribed. The present generation knows nothing of this dread disease, and though it is to be hoped that ignorance in this respect may long be maintained!, tho folly of ■ refusing the only means of efficient (protection is to be deeply deplored."