The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-28
COMPULSORY VACCINATION
The Board of Alderman I'm Special Meeting
Last Night Adopt an Ordinance kequii-
Ing 1.-THE Two Cases of Smallpox on the
. Road to Recovery But it is Deemed Vine
TO Prepare for the Future

TO Prepare for the Future
The board of Aldermen met in called
session last night at S O'Clock, those
an attendance being Mayor >. r.
Wright and Aldermen Keith, Gore,
Twining, Walker, Green, Norwood,
Hewlett, Benson and Morrill, DR.. VIM.
ID. Mcmillan, superintendent of health,
was present.
Mayor Wright stated that he had
called the special meeting at the re-
quest of the board of health to take
action upon the matter of vaccination.
He stated that the board of health at
a meeting Saturday evening had pre-
pared an ordinance and requested that
1T be substituted for the ordinance
adopted last week with regard TO vac
cination.
The clerk then read the new ordi-
nance, which vas as follows:
BE it ordained by the board of al
dermen of the city of Wilmington, and
it is hereby ordained by the authority!
of the same. that
Il. The chairman of the or
health shall appoint not more than
five, nor less than three, physicians or
this city, who Shall vaccinate all per
some Within the limits OF the corpora
ton who are unable to provide such
service for themselves, and who, in
the opinion of these physicians, are not
already protected by a successful vac
cinatiOn of recent date. The 1nSt1tu-
tion of this public service Shall he I'M
der the advisory control OF the board
of health, who shall see that the phy-
sicians employed for the service are
properly instructed in the duties they
assume, and that they actively prose-
cute their work. 1t shall be n or tine
duties of these physicians to make
proper report of each days work on
forms to be provided for the urpos
"2. 1t is hereby also ordained that
any person or persons resisting the ser
vice of vaccination as above provided,
either to prevent it's execution upo
themselves, their children or wards,
shall be reported to the mayor by the
public vaccinator in whose district such
person Or persons shall reside, ana
such person or persons shall, upon his
presentment, be arrested and brought
before the mayor, and If convicted,
fined $40, or be imprisoned thirty days.
''3. Tt is provided by this ordinance
that any person may secure vaccina-
,tion for him or herself and such other
persons as may be dependent upon
them from any physician of the city,
provided. however, thai vaccination
must be done Within t~wenty-four hours
after the visit of the public vaccinator,
and that a certificate of such vacclna-
tion from the physician doing the work
shall be at nee sent in to the super
intendent of health's office without
further notice"
Alderman Gore called for the ordi-
nance adopted by the board ON We'd
nesday, the 18th instant, and it was
read. as follows:
BE it ordained by the board of AL
dermen of the city of Wilmington:
1. THAT all persons who are living
within the limits of the city of Will
mingtOn shall be vaccinated as soon as
practicable Within ten days from this
date, provided, however. that this act
shall not apply to such persons VINO,
in the opinion OF the family physician,
have been vaccinated within a reason
able time preceding.
2. persons violating he provis-
fous of this ordinance shall be deemed
guilty of a violation of the police pow
er of the city and be fined or imprison-
ed at the discretion of the court"
Alderman Gore said he could not see
why the ordinance first adopted would
not do for this occasion. He asked
what would be the cost of carrying out
the ordinance recommended by the
board of health.
Mayor Wright said it was proposed
Ito pay the physicians $25 a week each.
Alderman Gore said he was opposed
to the ordinance submitted by the
board of health. He thought it went
too far, and besides, he did not think
fit proper to pas the ordinance with
out stipulating the charges for vaccl-
nation. He said 81 was too much to
charge people who would not come
under the free list. Some people We're
saying already that this action is in
favor of the doctors.
Mayor Wright said the ordinance was
not properly before h board unless
someone would move it's abortion.
Alderman Keith said he wou4' not
vote for the ordinance, but he w~alld
make the motion to get it up for dis
cussion.
Alderman Gore said he was opposed
to it but would second the motion, INK
it was adopted.
Alderman Keith remarked that the
board of health ordinance was iron
clad, and as the smallpox scare is %
over, only two cases having occurred,
and they We're nearly we'll, he Thought
such an ordinance was useless. Some
people can't he vaccinated and some
don't want to he, and he was opposed
to compulsory vaccination. If there
were an epidemic here he would favor
the ordinance. He said at any rate,
25 cents was sufficient to charge for
the service. In Atlanta and other
cities the physicians charge only 20
cents.