REPORT OF THE ROYAL VACCINATION COMMISSION. 701 



6. Destruction of infected clothing and bedding, and thorough dis- 

 infection of room or house immediately after removal of the 

 patient. 



6. Daily observation (including, where possible, taking the tempera- 



ture and inspection for rash) of all persons who have been in 

 close contact with the patient during his illness ; such super- 

 vision to be carried out either in quarantine stations (away 

 from the hospital) or at their own homes. 



7. Closure of schools on the occasion of the occurrence of small-pox 



among the scholars or teachers. 



8. Hospitals and quarantine stations to be comfortable and attractive) 



and so administered as to secure the confidence of the public. 

 Hospital treatment to be free to all classes, and compensation 

 to be paid to those detained or otherwise inconvenienced in the 

 public interest, at the public expense. 



9. Tramps entering casual wards to be medically inspected, their 



clothing to be disinfected, and bath provided. The measures 

 for detection and isolation of small-pox in common lodging- 

 houses suggested in section 507 of the Report to be carried 

 out. 



10. International notification of the presence of small-pox, and 



special vigilance at seaports in communication with infected 

 places, after the plan adopted in the case of cholera. 



11. Attention to general sanitation — -prevention of overcrowding. 



abundant water supply, and frequent removal of refuse. 



THey conclude as follows : — 



We believe the methods of isolation of the infected, disinfection, and 

 the observance of strict cleanliness, are both more successful and more 

 legitimate methods for the State to encourage. They have the advantage 

 of applying the preventive only where it is required ; and they do not 

 necessitate an operation upon the person of every healthy individual. 



We therefore recommend that the law be amended by the repeal of 

 the compulsory clauses of the Vaccination Acts. But in consideration 

 of the prevalent belief in the value of vaccination as a prophylactic for 

 an indefinite period, we suggest that in other respects the law should be 

 left as it is, subject, however, to such modifications as are recommended 

 for the diminution of attendant risks. The precedent established in the 

 case of the abolition of compulsory church rates might be followed with 

 advantage. In that case all machinery for laying and collecting the rate 

 was left intact though the power of enforcement was taken away. The 

 efEect of our recommendation, if adopted, would be that vaccination 

 would continue to be provided as at present for those who desire to avail 

 themselves of it, but efforts to secure vaccination would be limited to 

 moral influence — in a word, the whole country would be in the position of 

 those unions in which the guardians have abandoned compulsion. 



The grounds on which we object to the enforcement of vaccination 

 by penalties necessarily lead us to object to any method of indirect 



