[Report 1871] / Medical Officer of Health, Leicester Borough.

  • Leicester (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1871] / Medical Officer of Health, Leicester Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fatally on the 5th of May. Steps had previously been taken by the Board of Health for the establishment of a hospital for the isolation of future cases, into the history of which 1 need not enter, as it is familiar to you all. 1 may say, the means adopted were almost completely successful in checking the progress of the disease, and from the 6th May, to the 31st December, only 12 deaths occurred in the town, and 1 am of opinion that we could, by the efforts which were used, have completely stamped out the disease, but for the opposition which was manifested in certain quarters to the removal of patients to the hospital. At the period of writing this, I regret to say that the disease is so extensively dis¬ seminated, that 1 fear the utmost that we can accomplish will be to moderate the severity of the epidemic ; and this, I trust, we shall be able to effect very considerably. The great majority of those now attacked, with the exception of those under the care of unlicensed practitioners (who oppose very generally their removal or re-vaccination), being anxious to enter the hospital, knowing that the treatment and nursing there are infinitely better than they could obtain at their own homes. 1 wish 1 could announce that the prejudices against vaccination, so unceasingly fostered by a certain class, were diminishing, but this I fear is not the case ; yet 1 think it desirable not to relax in the exposure of the fallacies that are so industriously propagated, but by a reiteration of facts to demonstrate how untenable they are, in the hope that finally our opponents will allow reason and judgement to decide the question instead of imagination, i trust, therefore, that no apology will be neces¬ sary ior adding further proofs to the evidence in my last lie- port, that vaccination in the great majority ol cases is abso¬ lutely protective against an attack ol Small Box,—and tin t