The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-08-07 00:00:00

COMPULSORY VACCINATION.

A public meeting has been held, at Sion Chapel, White-
chapel London, to protect against compulsory vacci-
nation. Tie meeting was very fully attended. The Rev.
Alexander sewn occup e I the chair—
After some remarks by the chairman and Mr. Gill,
Dr l'earee addressed the meeting. He had at one
lime. like so many of his medical brethren, been an
advocate for vac.cinatitin, but his attention having
been called to the subject, more particularly from
a case that came befote him in Ms capacity as
medical referee to an assurance society, he heti
devoted his time to a thorough investigadi
fl
of the subject, and he had long since come to
the conch... oi that the mortality of this country
increased just in proportion as vaccination was en-
fore, d. fie contended that the great inorease of con-
sumption in thin country was the result of vaccination,
and that in proportion as small-pox decreased, other
disease" such as diphtheria. bronchitis, scarlatina, &c.,
increased. Ile then real a variety of atatistica showing
that thirty years ag•t, when vactination was not no
general, a child had a much better chance of liv-
ing tot its tenth year than it had note, when it
was liable to many diseases a most unknown before
vacrination was introduced. Toe orgival lymph of
Dr. Jenner was obtained from the greasy Imofts of the
horse, and this disease in horses was known to be the
result of lung disease. It was not surprising, there-
fore, that diseases of the lungs were implanted in children
thus vaccinated. From a large experience in fever cases
he found that unvaccinated persons had a much greater
chance of recovery than those who had been
vaccinated. This was al-c experienced in the French
fever hospitals. 'they must recollect, however, that
while the enormous tium ot 050,000 per annum was
ptid to medical men in this country for vaccination, it
would require time and perseverance to overthrow the
system.
Dr. Reed moved the following resolution :
That this meeting, being fully convinced that the state-
ment recently made by a police nisgisirate, namely, that
minions of lives have been saved by vaccination, is untounded
in fact, pledges itself to support the Anit-Compolsory Vac-
cination League in Its efforts to procure a repeal of the Vacs
cination Act."
As an old physician, he denounced vaccination as one
of the greatest humbugs and delusions of the day,
which ahould be exposed and put down for the general
good of society.
Mr. Paterson seconded the resolution, which was
carried, with a few dissentienta.
A petition to Parliament, praying for • Parlia-
mentary inquiry into the working and effects of the
Compulsory Vaccination Law, was then carried unani-
mously, and the proceeding* concluded with a vote of
thanks to the chairnian.

THE HO7.RIBLE DISCOVERY AT
CRACOW.
An Austrian Correapoodent of The Timex has sent the
foliorrins detailed account tif the dreadful cruelty to a Cur-
nietite nun at Cracow, and so revolting Is the story, that one
feels illoposed to invoke the earth to iitien and swallow up
the Inhuman wretches who for twenty-one long years kept
the poor girl in such dreadful punishineut
The Austrian Frees is crowded with the incidents of
• horrible discovery just made at Cracow. The event
is one which will powerfully influence the relations of
Austria and Home, and will certainly make &final end
of the Concordat, the principles of which embodied an
unjust aggression on the civil power.
But now let sue narrate the circumstances of this dis-
covery. The police magistracy of CfINX/V/ lately re-
ceived an anonyinous letter slating that a nun had
been immured in • neighbouring cloister since 1848,
and begging that justice might be done to her. The
name of the nun is Barbera Abryk. She was born in
1817 joined the cloister et barefooted Carmelite nuns I
in 1811, whether as • nun or as an extern is not yet
jadicitilly ascertained, and to 1848 was confined in the
Cell where she was found. The nunnery where she
was immured ilex in one of the prettiest lanbourgs of
Cracow, near the Botanical Gardens, a favourite
resort oi the citizens. Little did they fancy that
within these cloisters a scens was being enacted which,
if described II) one of our eensation.l romance writers,
we should regard an the offspring id • disemed fancy, ,
but which here was a irightfnl reality.
Tr., magistracy, being informed, immediately took
active steps to ascertain the truth. Whether they were
bound to apply to the Bishop to aid them I do not
know. Under the Concordat they would, but I think
c.iri,ly now. However, they thought it best to have
ills aid wifris was panted, while at tiii mule time be