Catalogue description Content: Folios 83-84B. Letter from William Graham, member of the Royal College of...

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Details of MH 12/5968/1/38
Reference: MH 12/5968/1/38
Description:
Content: Folios 83-84B. Letter from William Graham, member of the Royal College of Surgeons of London, of 51 Marylebone, Liverpool to Poor Law Commission. Letter outlines allegations that Mr Campion, who has no medical qualifications is busy vaccinating the poor children of Liverpool. He is employed by Mr Callan, Liverpool Medical Officer of 19 Marylebone to vaccinate the children, receiving 9d for each child and apparently is employed in similar manner by other parish surgeons in Liverpool. He claims to have just completed two hundred vaccinations in Callan's district. Calling attention to this circumstance because many of Liverpool's medical officers are in the habit of employing deputies having no proper qualifications. One surgeon employed an unemployed house agent and passed him off to the authorities as a regular surgeon. After being shipwrecked found himself in Liverpool and needing work was employed by Callan as assistant, being promised 3d per child vaccinated. Owing to the onerous duties of an assistant parish surgeon he had only been able to vaccinate 17 children since 28 February 1851. It was wrong to entrust the important job of vaccination to ignorant pretenders who would not be able to identify fever and had an incentive to swell the list of successful vaccinations. Suggested may account for the prevalence of smallpox in Liverpool. Requested privacy because he would lose his employment if named but matter needs to be aired and will provide further information if necessary. Annotated: as to whether there is any reason which supports the existence of this practice It is understood that Graham was formerly a medical officer at Liverpool but was compelled to resign about a year and a half ago. It is necessary to ask Callan who he employs to vaccinate for him as to what his medical qualifications are. Paper Number: 12352/1851. Poor Law Union Number 220. Counties: Lancashire.
Date: 11 Mar 1851
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

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