Folios 37-45. To: The General Board of Health. From: Francis Cooper, Officer of Health,...

Folios 37-45.

To: The General Board of Health.

From: Francis Cooper, Officer of Health, Southampton [Hampshire].

Subject Matter: Letter calling attention to a large School in Southampton (under a Chapel) where several cases of smallpox have occurred - 'and from which the disease has been propagated by the children into various parts of this town'. Cooper reports that most of the cases have been mild, and that several have occurred where vaccination has previously been performed. He explains that where vaccination has been done in the proper manner, 'the pustules from smallpox were few and small, and died away about the fourth day'; but where vaccination has been neglected, 'the pustules are numerous, and run a course from four to ten days - with a good deal of constitutional disturbance'. Cooper further explains that he inspected the School and requested the children to be dispersed, and the walls and ceiling be thoroughly lime washed - 'also, a better system of ventilation to be adopted'. Since which, 'the school/children have continued healthy, and no further case of smallpox has presented itself'.

Cooper has long thought that some step was necessary to enforce a system of vaccination for all classes. He explains that some time ago, he wrote to Dr Babington, the President of the Epidemiological Society, and forwarded him a plan, with accompanying tables and forms of certificate [copies included in item] - 'and am convinced of their general applicability'. The Registrar of Births and Deaths is said to have been pleased to say that he thought them 'so simple and efficient, that if adopted there would be no difficulty whatever in carrying out a plan of national vaccination, based on the general distribution of the tables and certificates to the various Registrars and Vaccinators throughout the Kingdom'.

Cooper submits that the present system of vaccination is so 'cumbrous' that it is inoperative, 'and, indeed, many medical men will not give certificates'. He suggests that his plan is so simple that it enables the Registrar at once to ascertain who has been and who has not been vaccinated every quarter. Cooper describes how his plan would work, with reference to the tables and forms of certificate enclosed herewith.

Cooper adds in a postscript that he is aware of the difficulties of legislating for this, or any other object, and that he merely suggests this remedy. He does not doubt for a moment, however, 'the facility and universality' of the plan he proposes, if legally authorised.