New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-14
THE ANTI-VACCINATION CRUSADE.
MEANING OF THE CONCESSIONS MADE IN GREAT
BRITAIN

MEANING OF THE CONCESSIONS MADE IN GREAT
BRITAIN.
Several weeks ago the sanction Of the British
Parliament secured to a clause In the Vac
cnation bill which permits compulsory vacci-
nation to be omitted IN cases where strenuous
protest is made. based upon conscientious con-
victions This modification OF the policy pre-
viously pursued was brought about In the face
OF what is the most enlightened popular senti-
ment and OF the opinion OF the medical profess
sion as whole II Is almost incredible that
what looks like backward step could be taken
in so progressive land as England and in the
country that produced Sir Edward Jenner.
Some light is thrown on this phase OF the SUBJ
Jet by an anonymous contributor 10 Nature
The Royal Commissioners on Vaccination. on
whose report the action Of Parliament was
largely based entertained no doubt whatever
as TO the protective value Of the practice in
question. They recognized. however, that un-
der certain conditions and in an inhnitesmally
small number Of cases there is danger-n most
instances a easily preventable danger-of evh
results from the operation. Thus there would
always he limited class Of people who would
place individual feeling before public welfare
and rebel against wise measure as COM
pulsory vaccination It seems TO be the truth
mostly by those who have come under the OPP
Grafton OF the law in the past and who. though
not the victims OF any unhappy physical con-
SEQUENCES are nevertheless accustomed 10
think Of themselves as martyrs.
Now, the Commissioners. II the writer In
Mature" is correct wanted 10 deprive these
asitators OF their ability 70 make mischief. At
the same time a way devised 10 put the
latter 10 just enough inconvenience in the graf
ifcatlon Of their preJudices 10 act as dlscour-
agement Hence the conscience clause was
put into the new bill. but persons who wished
70 take advantage of it were required TO regis
That the state OF things provided for under
this years law is not so very different from
that existing for several years past becomes APP
narent when one considers that the old COM
nulsory system had fallen into disuse to a nota-
bic extent. Owing 10 popular prejudice ana the
negligence Of the authorities, great many
people are TO be found in communities here ana
there in England who have not been vaccihateo
at all And il thus becomes possible 10 have
serious outbreak like that in Gloucester a few
months ago
Such being the case. IT is thought by some
thai a distinct gain will be- made II the anti
yaccinators are silenced by concession. ana are
carefully registered fer future consideration.
sooner or later the time will come when an epl-
demic OF smallpox will break out. and II VIII
appear las it always does that the ravages or
~ ,oaIadv are more severe among the unyac-
cinsted than among the vaccnated. But 1t VIII
further become evident that some or the VIC
tins OF the epidemic the children OF pa.ents
n.hn ba we gone on record as fighting the estab-
lshed policy OF compulsory vaccination
Meantime the writer in Mature advises
conpaign Of education by those who have the
tght sort Of material All good stories Of the
contraction Of smallpox by unvaccnated chill
dren should be diligently circulated. he thinks.
ard then he proceeds TO tell one himself