PDF (Whole thesis) - UTas ePrints - University of Tasmania

282
measures , emb odying the principle of house-to-house visitation.
Ha,ll corresponded on the level of personal friendship with 1ilroy, who
became the Society 's President in 1866-7, and enthusiastically fol lowed
and contributed to its literature and scientific life, his work was a I·
deliberate attempt to introduce into Tasmania the latest research findings
of the Vaccination Committee.
September 10 .
As
In fact, he stated this intention on
In exerting mys elf so actively to obtain the most complete
protection possible of the whole population from the horrors
of a possible invasion of smallpox, I have been merely an
exponent of the views of a society in London, the
'Epidemiological' constituted of members of the highest
standing in every branch of the medical profession and
specially of all those eminent as sanitary philanthropists ,
health officers , etc., the Queen 's medical adviser amongst
the number. 4
In view of the fact that house to house visitation was not accepted by
the English Parliament , though urgently and repeatedly recommended by
the Smallpox and Vaccination Committee, Hall's attempt to introduce the
practice in Tasmania was b o ld and courageous , completely in accord with
the most modern scientific and medical research overs eas .
Naturally,
this new approach met with a mixed reception from the community and some
medical practitioners , though undoub tedly of great worth in itself .
The story of Hall's persistent, prolonged attempt to accomplish his aim
in a smal l, isolated, far distant colony is, therefore , singularly
interesting, if not extraordinary .
Two days after his Vaccination Bill was submitted to Parliament,
Ha ll applied for the position of Quarantine Health Officer for the Port
of Hebart, which was about to become vacant on Bedford's departure to
Sydney, and for which he considered himself ideally suited at such a
critical time .
It is most important to the vital and commercial interests
of the- colony that the holder of thatoffice should be by
habits , study etc., specially fitted for the duty" , he wrote
to the Colonial-Secretary on July 9. ''I am the Senior
Medical Practitioner in Hobarton; my habits , it is well
known, are such that at any hour of night and day , I shall
be found prompt and ab le to discharge the duty required
from me. s
Both for financial (he had a large household of nine to support) and
psychological reasons , Hall was desperately anxious to obtain the
: '
!
.j
..
' I
4
5
Mercury, Sept. 12 , 1863 .
CSD 4/44/B602.