Norwich Disaster
Another Local Government
Board Inquiry of the same kind was held at Norwich, in 1882, by Mr. J. J. Henley
and Dr. Airy. This was due to a complaint made by Mr. Lee Bliss, of Norwich,
"that eight cases of death and injury had resulted" in that city after
vaccination by the local Public Vaccinator. As in the other inquiry, the lymph
was made to appear blameless! The Inspectors condemned the "crowded" vaccination
station, and, curiously enough, while stating "that no blame was proved to
attach to the Public Vaccinator" in the performance of his duties, forthwith
reprimanded him for "using again and again the same ivory points." They said
:—"We consider that it was an error of judgment on his part" to continue
vaccination while in attendance on erysipelatous cases. (See page 478, Fourth
Report, Royal Commission.)
It may be here observed that,
in this Norwich Disaster, there were four deaths,
three of which were misleadingly certified, no mention of vaccination appearing
on any of those death certificates. These, so to speak, accidental revelations
as to falsely certifying, occurring as they do in different parts of the
country, are eloquent in their suggestiveness as to the widespread prevalence of
the discreditable "hushing-up" business.
LEICESTER: SANITATION versus VACCINATION
BY J.T. BIGGS J.P.