The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-27
VACCINATION.

by those who have given attention to the
subject that whatever the claims for
vaccination or the denunciation OF 1t, 1t
originated with dreamer, II not char
Iatau, and is based on lie.
We believe there is a growing senti-
ment among medical men that some
day vaccination will. be dropped just as
"bleeding" and lots of other once un-
questioned medical practices have been.
II is, we believe, unquestioned that
there are abundant statistics to demon
strate that vaccination is useless TO pre-
vent small pox, sn6 that there are also
statistics to prove that it is OF itself fre.
quently a promoter Of loatdsome disease.
We are credibly informed that many
eminent practitioners who had accepted
the teachings Of their studer. days as TO
vaccination. have upon investigation be
come convinced that vaccination is an
erorr and a crime. A notable instance OF
this is that Of DIR. CHARLES CREIGHTON,
who prepared the article on vaccination
for the great Encyclopaedia Brittanica.
DIR. CREIGHTON was an advocate OF vac
cination until he was impelled to turn
from his practice and investigate for the
purpose OF preparing his article for a
work designed as the highest authority
in the world on the matters treated, and
accordingly the great British Encycio-
paedia is sponsor for terrible arraign-
ment OF vaccination.
We have compulsory vaccination law
in Rhode Island. Efforts have from time
know OF no more disinterested efforts in
m alters CT legislation than are making
everywhere by the anti-vaccinist. Our
Rhode Island Jaw compels every pupil in
the public schools to be vaccinated or
else be deprived of the privilege OF the
schools. IL there Is possibility that one
child may be injured by vaccination, this
is an outrageous law. 1t Is in evidence that
here in Rhode Island terrible injury has
been wrought by vaccination in more
than one case. IL there is any doubt as to
the efficacy OF vaccination the law is
abominable and absurd and there are am
pie reasons to doubt that vaccination is
efficient to prevent or even ameliorate the
ravages OF small pox. The law ought to
be abolished IL for no other reason than
that 1t is a specimen OF useless paternal
legislation. But there arc reasons to be-
iieve that 1t is much wosse than that
that II is positive crime. II is not un'
likely that some day vaccination will bs
prescribed by law but at any rate so long
as 1t is questionable practice 1t should
never be compulsory. Or II it is to be com
| pulsory, 1T ought to be imposed on every in
habitant Of the Stateas well as on the child.
rem. II there is any good In 1t, II 1t is
necessary to the public health, law
should be made compelling everybody tc
be vaccinated.
One day last week DIR. MONTAGUE r.
LEvERsoN, M. A., Ph.D., M. H., appeared
before the committee that is considering
the anti-compulsory vaccination bill now
In our General Assembly. DR.. LEvERsoN
10 eminent among the anti-vaccinists and
otherwise distinguished man, q doctor,
a lawyer, a scientist. lie Is member OF
the bar OF tho United States Supreme
Court and an author of many eminent
works on important topics. What he
says Is important. The matter OF COM
pulsory vaccination of our school children
is highly important matter. nothing
more so. We do not see why DIR. Lev
ERsoN should not be invited to address
the whole Assembly, instead Of handful
of committeeman and given the privilege
OF the floor of the House. 1t would be OF
essential public benefit and every member
would then have the advantage OF listen
ing to authoritative statements OF fact as
well as OF eloquent argument that prob.
ably could not be easily refuted.
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