Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-09
AS 10 VACCINATION.

The recent sgitatloB OF the subject
Of vaccination in this city has wrought
up scare, particularly among chill
dren In the city schools, ana in some
county schools adjoining the city, tina,
ought to be put stop to at once. In
some cases ths teachers have discussed
the subject before the pupils, going SO
far as to inform tho latter that ihuy
must be vRoclnated. or course, no
such order has been given, although II
has been proposed. The teachers who
have given it out as stated have been
a cause OF positive injury to the pupils
in the excitement created, besides
being OF great annoyance to parents,
consequent upon the nervousness and
agitation that affects the children.
1t is understood that the city attor-
ney, by request, is ioaking up the
legal question whether or not the
health commissioner mas the power to
require the Inhabitants to be vacciuat-
Of, upon there being occasion therefor.
But whatever conclusion he may
reach OH the sutject when there may
be- a probable necessity therefor, such
as a threste ed injection Of smallpox
it is pretty safe 10 say that he VIII not
take the Wow that vaccination may be
forced upon the Inhabitants rs the
mere fad or within Of one doctor or
more. Tbs health authorities have
no more power than the charter confeis
upon the municipal council. Aud while
the power to preserve tie health Of
the city by all needfnl regulations is
conferred, the Preservation OF the COM
fort, convenience and good order OF
the inhabitants is co-grdinate re-
quirt meut, and the imposition oil an
unnecessary regulation, whether II be
an uncalled Tor vaccination or any
thing else, IL not conclusive to tho coE'
tort or convenience OF the people, and
therefore lie not authorized.
1t may be urte that anything
health commissioners may decide on
as necessary TO preserve the public
hthhh Chb bN DAN NhhN -
not logical seque nee OF the charter
power. Thers are In this city physi.
clans OF first standing who hold that
windows should be left wide open
winter and summer, shat wall paper liz
houses ia u menace to health, that
carpets on floors are repOsltoriss Of
death.dealing baciili, that upholstered
furniture furnishes nests Tor murder.
ous microbes; and 1t is not improbable
that their view has good foundation.
But let a health board order the re-
moval OF furniture. carpets and wall.
paper from dwellings, or try to root
people cut into the open air when
there 10 no imperative necessity there
ior--snd anybody can guess the
result. The orders OF health
boads must be reasonable when
taken into consideration with existing
or prospective circumstance; and In
this view requirement OF Wholesale
vaccination does not appear reasonable
just at this moment.
Again, the proposition to have chill
dren herdet before certain physicians
to be Vaccinated, or to compel them to
accept certain virus, would bs out.
rageous II adopted. Ia a requirement
Tor vaccination, the people are not to
be driven up in that way. Parents
nave jurisdiction over minor children,
and II vaccination bs required, they
have the right to chose between
physicians OF recognigsI standing to
perform the labor Tor themselves OF
their of lpring. The schools are moi
to be rounded up as such; nor NJ,
children to be- specially selected. Any
vaccination rule must apply to all, o
all ages, who have not been subjected
thereto. when the Necessity for it exist
atRll.
The NEWS is not antagonizlng vac
pluStion. We submit, however, tina
The treatment 10 known to be not ire
from danger; and that it is resisted b.
many Tor the relsou that 1t 10 ohargsl
with being the means Of commuujcat
lug certain forms Of diaoase to otnel
wise healthy persons. Perhaps tn
uImost credit that can be given
without exciting much uniuIoihgen
controversy la thatiL Is merely a SUI
posed preGauu0n when immlnsn
Hanger Of smsllpox ezlsts-but tina.
isastep which should not be taken, Q
at least need not he, save when tn
urgency therefor is plainly apparen
.-----------5s---------