Vaccinia in man : a clinical study / by Theodore D. Acland.

  • Acland, Theodore D. (Theodore Dyke), 1851-1931.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vaccinia in man : a clinical study / by Theodore D. Acland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    period 1883-87 with the period 1863-67, the increase of deaths under one year of age from diarrhoea and dysentery in Leicester was 4*2 per cent, whereas in England and Wales it was 0-5 per cent. A similar comparison in respect of bronchitis shows the increase in Leicester to be 112*8 per cent, in England and Wales 73'3 per cent. It seems clear that as regards general infantile mortality Leicester has not gained by its avoidance of vaccination. Whilst in England and Wales the mortality of children under one year of age had between the periods selected for comparison decreased 7'5 per cent, in Leicester the decrease was only 2*8 per cent. Upon the whole, then, we think that the evidence is overwhelming to show that in the case of some of the diseases referred to, vaccination cannot have produced any effect upon the mortality from them, and that it has not in the case of any one of them increased the mortality to a substantial, we might even say an appreciable extent.” That harm occasionally results from vaccination in individual cases cannot be doubted; but whether the number of cases in which injury is inflicted be large or small, it is interesting to note that the annual infantile death-rate has not increased since vaccination was made com¬ pulsory ; it has, in fact, diminished. (See Final Report R.C.V. p. 102, para. 385.) The actual numbers are—1838-42, 152 per thousand births ; 1847-50, 154; 1851-60, 154; 1861-70, 154; 1871-80, 149; 1881- 90, 142. It is obvious that these figures give no certain data for determining the actual number of deaths which result directly or indirectly from vaccination; neither does the diminution in the annual death-rate show that no deaths result from the operation ; but they indicate that no appreciable increase in the death-rate, whether due to vaccination or not, has occurred. There are also other data available for forming a reasonably accurate estimate of the facts. Statistics of deaths and injuries. — The number of deaths or of serious injuries which result annually from vaccination may be arrived at with considerable certainty. From the Registrar- General’s returns it appears that in the years 1881-89 the number of deaths certified as connected with vaccination was 476, or nearly 53 a year. During these nine years 6,739,902 primary vaccina¬ tions were performed. This gives an average of 1 death to 14,159 primary vaccinations. During the three years from 1st November 1888 to 30th November 1891, 205 alleged cases of injury were inquired into by the medical department of the Local Government Board; and from 1st June 1889 to 1st July 1896, 421 additional cases were investigated by the Royal Commission on Vaccination. Of the cases inquired into by the Local Government Board, Dr. Coupland and I came to the conclusion that in approximately 20 per cent the influence of vaccination was doubtful. Of the cases investigated for the Commission by Dr. Barlow and myself, about 16 per cent were probably altogether unconnected with vaccination; while of the cases inquired into by Dr. Luff, nearly 40 per cent are placed by him in the same category.