702 SUPPLEMENTARY APPENDIX. 



compulsion. We regard as both inexpedient and unjust exclusion from 

 any branch of the public service because of the refusal to submit to 

 vaccination or re- vaccination. The injustice is perhaps most severely felt 

 in the case of candidates for employment as pupil-teachers in public 

 elementary schools. There are now districts in which, owing to the 

 general opposition to vaccination, scarcely a girl or boy can be found who 

 is legally eligible, and candidates have to be brought in at great incon- 

 venience from surrounding districts. The existence of an exceptional 

 case or cases in which such rejected candidates have at some time after- 

 wards taken small-pox is in our view no justification for the continuation 

 of this grievance. Statistics furnished to the Commission prove that 

 large numbers of vaccinated or re-vaccinated persons have taken the 

 disease ; and we are not aware of any evidence to show that vaccinated 

 pupil-teachers have any special immunity. If our recommendations were 

 carried out, the danger of contagion would be greatly diminished in 

 schools, as elsewhere. 



On the whole, then, while there is much in the report of our colleagues 

 from which we dissent, and we have accordingly abstained with reluctance 

 from adding our signatures to theirs, we are at one with them in holding 

 that it is unwise to attempt to enforce vaccination on those who regard it 

 as useless and dangerous. We, however, go further, and agree with our 

 colleagues, Mr. Whitbread and Mr. Bright, that it would be simpler and 

 more logical to abolish compulsory vaccination altogether. 



