The Act to extend and make Vaccination compulsory in Scotland was passed in 1863—an Act little else than superfluous, for the people were vaccinated without it. There died of smallpox in Scotland—
| In 1859 | 682 | In 1863 | 1,648 |
| 1860 | 1,495 | 1864 | 1,741 |
| 1861 | 766 | 1865 | 383 |
| 1862 | 426 | 1866 | 200 |
| —— | —— | ||
| 3,369 | 3,972 |
The average of these eight years was 907 deaths annually; and one inquires with some amaze, Where were the 2,000 which compulsory vaccination reduced to 120? It is difficult to repress some indignation over such measureless misrepresentation; nor to point out that we are not dealing with theologians, who are often assumed to hold a license for prevarication, but with medical officials with M.P.’s for spokesmen. The following years, of which Lord Robert Montagu, speaking in 1867, was necessarily ignorant, gave these deaths from smallpox in Scotland—
| In 1867 | 100 | In 1870 | 114 |
| 1868 | 15 | 1871 | 1,442 |
| 1869 | 64 | 1872 | 2,488 |
Smallpox was proclaimed “stamped-out” of Scotland in 1870, but the epidemic of 1871-72 proved how vain was the boast. Smallpox, in common with typhus, may be exterminated, but by no such irrelevance as vaccination.
One object of the bill was the reconstruction of vaccination districts, so as to secure sufficient numbers for arm-to-arm practice.
It is necessary [said Lord R. Montagu] to successful Vaccination that the two classes of patients, those who have been vaccinated eight days before should meet those who are to be vaccinated, so that the doctor may take vaccine from the arms of one set and transfer it to those of the other.
Mr. Henley, in opposition, maintained that careful vaccination on such terms was impracticable, saying—
It seems a large proportion of the Vaccination provided by the public is imperfect; but the bill before us is wholly inadequate to secure Vaccination that is trustworthy. If a vaccinator never sees a child until it is brought to him, and knows nothing of its parentage, how can he judge whether it is fit to be vaccinated, or fit to serve for the vaccination of others? No torture will induce a mother to confess before company that anything ails her baby. Every one who knows anything of women is aware that they will conceal in public what they may reveal in the privacy of home. The shame of making known her own infirmities, or those of her family, will keep a woman silent in a crowd, and if she does reply to awkward questions, it will be to mislead. Medical men will consequently be perplexed and outwitted; and, therefore, on the terms prescribed a safe and efficient system of Vaccination cannot be secured.
Further, said Mr. Henley, the bill was defective because no attempt was made to conciliate the prejudices or consult the convenience of the people who were compelled to have their children vaccinated.