Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-05
Mr.. REED replied that he thought it was.

OF the disease In Portland among Tue ioNei
class of people, and said the bill had met with
the approval Of such distinguished members
of the medical profession as DR.. IewKsoory
of Portland. and Professor Green of Bowdoin
College.
Mr.. KEsyIsroN thought the title Of the bill
was wrong. 1t should be ''an act for the ben
eft of surgeons and physicians" He thought
there were intelligent men in every town capa-
Bile of matchmaking its inhabitants without the
interposition of a "skilfrl practicing physi-
cian.'
Mr.. MANSON, in behalf of the medical pro-
fession, denied the insinuation that the bill
was in the interests Of surgeons and physi-
clans. IF the profession should consult their
measure was for the prevention OF most
loathsome disease, and was in the interest OF
the people at large.
Mr.. CoRTHELL was inclined to think that It
was barely possible that more tyranny had
been discovered in the bill than was actually
in it. 1t seemed to him that 1t could not be
warped into any invading power Of mounted
Cossacks. or any physician armed with his
lancet, dipping with the blood of his innocent
and trembling victim. He thought there was
no cruelty to the children wrapped up IN the
bill. 1t looked to him very innocent. 1t
provides that vaccination shall be under the
care of "a skillful practicing physician Was
not this better than to have man running
round with his jack-knife putting in virus, ct
might be, tainted with disease, into the sys-
TENS of our children and families: He
thought that should not be left ont OF the
bill. He referred to the provision which
relates to the duty to be discharged by
the officers Of the towns, and said that town
officers are under the control of voters OF the
town. The provision which related to COM
pulsory vaccination, he did not think was any
hardship, but it was needed, for it was well
known there are many citizens, mostly for
egners, who were opposed to the idea of vac
cnation, and would not be vaccnated. He
did not think it hardship that man should
be compelled to have his family vaccinated,
in order to protect his neighbors from TIE
! disease.
Mr. REED spoke in reply.
Mr.. TREwoReY favored the bill as it was.
We should look out for our own protection,
and he hoped that in his absence, some
doctor would visit his family and vaccinate all
his children. And if any stood out against it,
if they would send for him, he would go
home and hold them.
Mr.. KElLocH understood that the ilIustrous
and eloquent gentleman from Madawaska (Mr.
Keegan) had submitted to vaccination, and
the virus communicated had rendered him in
capable portion Of the time ofattending to the
arduous duties which deyolved upon him, as
: a representative of his numerous constituency
To-day he is absent from his seat, and be
thought it was because Of the disease eommu
nicated by the lancet. He did not care to bg
submitted to the same operation and there
:. fore he hoped the House would consider tbs
subject upon its merits.
Mr.. MATTHEWS explained that the gentle
j., man from Madawaska, (Mr. Keegan) as liz
y understood it, had gone to Portland, on
mission similar to the one the gentleman
; from Thomaston (Mr. Kelloch) was engaged
j; in few days ago.
Mr.. NASH thought there were objeetona
features in the bill. 1t is said that "selfpres
' ervation is among the first laws of nature
There are none of US that will not take al
the precau,ion we can to guard against dis
ease, as a general thing. He understood that
members of the medical profession are not
united az to the efficiency of vaccination foi
the prevention of small pox. If it be fac
that doctors disagree, it would be rather Sc
we're for this House, those who don't pretend
to understand the workings of this system, tt
compel the people to submit to it. He also
objected to the provision which provides FOL
a penalty, one half to go to the informer. l
was simply an invitation to any person whC
may have spite or prejudice to prosecute
!. He thought compulsory vaccination would bi
found very Objectionable to the people.
Mr.. KNowLToN favored the bill in its pres
ent form. He had sent copy of it TO mem
: Der Of the Supreme Judicial Court, and hat
received his answer endorsing it; it haC
also met the approval of many eminent phys
) icians not upon the ground that it will be o
any advantage to them, as had been intina
ted, but upon the ground that it is for the best
interest of the entire public. In the State OF
New York they have had such a law for a
long time, and as exposed as they are by the
great tide Of immigration, they do not have as
much small pox as they have in Massachu-
sets, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, and
many other places. BY the enactment of this
could be put to the spread of this loathsome
disease, and our business interests will be
protected, for it is well known how business
in Boston, Portland, Bangor, and other places
has suffered in consequence of the disease.
The amendment was rejected, and the bill
passed to be engrossed
Bill an act TO amend chapter 80, section j
of the revised statutes, relating to bounties on
wild animals was read the third time.
Mr.. KIABALL moved to amend by striking
out the word "fox. ~
Mr.. KNIGHT opposed the motion, for foxes
in his town and county, were doing more
ton of poultry, than all other wild animals
put together. The people in his section were
largely engaged in the poultry BUSINESS, and
the amendment should not be adopted.
Mr.. KIMBALL said it was small matter,
only 80 cents on fox, but it would cost the
State thousands of dollars, and he was OPP
posed to it.
Mr.. PEAKS favored the amendment. Taere
were men in his section who would leave
their families and their work, and chase q fox
As hours without mouthful to eat, and then
come home and sit round the stores 48 hours
more and tell what good time they had. He
thought it very small affair to give so cts.
for the killing of fox, when most any nan
will give 81 himself to kill one.
The House refused to adopt the amendment
by II yeas, and 43 nays.
Mr.. MoRTLAND moved the indefinite post
ponement of the bill.
Mr.. KNIGHT opposed the motion, and spoke
further in favor of the bill.
The House refused to Indefinitely postpone
and passed the bill to be engrossed.
On motion of Mr.. CoRTHEIL the majority
and minority reports of the Committee on
Education, on the subject Of increasing the
school mill tax for the support of schools, and