Joseph Baxendett^ F.R.S. 55 



proof that vaccination does not, as it did in Jenner's time 

 and for many years after, afford an almost certain protection 

 against its attacks. He also states that the reduction in 

 the rate of mortality from the class of infectious or pre- 

 ventible diseases, has been more than counterbalanced by 

 an increase in the rate from the non-preventible class. This 

 paper of Mr. Baxendell's did not pass without criticism. 

 Another of our members, Dr. Arthur Ransome, replied 

 to it in a paper printed in the sixth volume of the 

 Memoirs (third series) entitled "Losses and Gains in the 

 Death-toll of England and Wales during the last Thirty 

 Years." Speaking of the source from which Mr. Baxendell 

 drew the materials for his deductions, he states that unfor- 

 tunately the returns of the Registrar General cannot be 

 relied on for the species of information which he seeks to 

 obtain from them ; the drawbacks to the utilityof the returns 

 had often been pointed out, and in the early reports of the 

 Registrar General, Dr. Farr himself complained of the imper- 

 fect nomenclature of disease. In reference to Mr, Baxendell's 

 remarks on the great increase of small-pox. Dr. Ransome 

 states, "his remarks on this point are undoubtedly very 

 important, and will need to be well weighed by those who 

 are responsible for the effective performance of vaccination. 

 It points to some imperfection in the operation, or to a 

 possible deterioration in the quality of the lymph owing to 

 its transmission too constantly through the human subject; 

 in any case its cause is worthy of full and patient investiga- 

 tion." With reference to sanitary improvements he states, 

 "it will be seen that I entirely agree with Mr. Baxendell in 

 thinking that the present sanitary system is very defective, 

 but it by no means follows that it has done no good." Mr. 

 Baxendell continued his investigations on the action of 

 vaccination. His next paper was "On the Increased Mor- 

 tality from Small-Pox." In this paper he continues his 

 argument against vaccination as a preventive of small- 



