The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-12
Went Tebb for
His Faith.
VACCINATION.
He's Against It and Works,
to Prevent 1t.

Mr.. William Tebb, past-president of
the National ADMINISTRATION League |
of England, was at the Bay State house
yesterday, where he was interviewed |
by The Spy man. Mr.. Tebb is a man Of |
6S years, but hale and strong. For 30 |
years he has led the fight against vac
cination in England, believing the prac- |
tice to be useless and dangerous, and |
it was finally through his efforts that |
an act " as passed making a parent no
longer subject to prosecution when he
refuses to allow his child to be vaccin-
ated.
NJ. Tebb has visited America several |
times before. in fact, has been four
times around the world, in the interests
Of his work. In 1854 he came to the
United States for the first time, when
he became known as one of the most |
brilliant orators of the abolition party. |
He was invited to visit Boston, where
he remained for some time, the guest
Of Francis Jackson, at whose house he
met Theodore Parker, Wendell Philips,
and others interested in the work of
abolition. In 1856 he married Miss
Mary Elizabeth Scott of Scott Hill,
Massachusetts.
Returning to England in 1852, he still
continued this work, but without losing
sight Of the reform he wished to bring
about. True to his convictions he re-
fused to allow his youngest daughter
to be vaccihated, and was imprisoned
and made to suffer the fullest penalty
of the Jenner law, enacted 1858.
About 1870 Anti V aecination Leagues
were organized in England, and these
Ill
until at present there are 120 in Eng
land and alone. Their object was to
obtain complete emancipation of the
people from what they believed to be a
michievous and indefensible usurpaD-
ton Of their rights. In 1880 Mr.. Tebb
founded the Vaccination Inquirer and
Health Review" which has been in
strumental in enlightening the public
concerning the evils Of vaccination
wherever the English language is
spoken.
Opposition to the law continuing, in
1880 royal commission, under the
presidency of Lord Herschell, was APP
pointed by the government. More than
100 reputable witnesses were examined,
among whom was Mr.. Tebb. His testi-
mony occupied five sittings Of the com
mission. He cited 1888 serious cases
and 842 deaths from vaccination, CIV
ing the chapter and verse, which salts
fed the commission as to the accuracy
of these details. AN act was passed
and signed by the queen on Aug. IL,
1885, allowing parental freedom in re-
gard to vaccination of children Mr..
Tebb, as president of the league, re-
ceived letters Of congratulation from
the continental nations and from the
United States
Mr.. Tebb thinks vaccination super
stitious practice, barbara sometimes,
and vary often ~ r0t ALWAYS
ducive of evil results, never Of good.
He does not speak sensationally, but
scientifically and after a half-century
of earnest, self-sacrificing study, does
not hesitate to proclaim vaccination
not only useless, but dangerous in the
extreme. That it is useless, statistics
show.
In the first serious epidemic In Eng
land after the passage Of the Jenner
law, $4,000 persons died of small pox,
10000 of whom had been successfully
vaocinated. AS to the danger, that, |
too, is shown, not so much by statis-
tics, but by the personal investigation
Of Mr. Tebb. He has found that it |
causes assesses, boils, blood poisoning, |
eczema and many other loathsome
eruptive diseases. Vaccination weakens
the system and renders it more liable
to take other diseases.
Innoculation, which is Sbut blood
pOASOIllllBy QOtS llOl pICNSllL sinai pun, |
but by better sanitation such as i'm
provement in drainage system, an
abundant supply of pure water, the in |
crease of baths and wash houses and
the multiplication Of open spaces Of
recreation, small pox, as well as other |
zymotio diseases, may be prevented. |
An epidemic such as of small pox, if |
not prevented, is never stamped out. |
1t may die out in time, but to stamp
out an epidemic one must begin before
it makes its appearance.
The Observation-Disclosures of Germany |
purpose holding q congress in Berlin to |
celebrate the repeal of the Jenner law,
and to further the cause in their own |
country. 1t has been suggested by |
medical men that the next international
characterization congress be held in
New York, Washington or Saratoga. |
Five such congresses have been held |
in England with the effect of intensity !
ing the opposition to the compulsory |
laws and promoting the freedom of the |
people from odious tyranny.
Mr.. Tebb regards this as a peoples |
question, and the progress made here |
tofore in England was made only by |
the sacrifices. sufferings and devotion |
of the English people, who were willing |
to submit to Imprisonment and the |
treadmill to uphold principle concern
ing the health of their children. Mr.. |
Tebb disclaims any honor for the sue
cess of his work, but says it was done |
by the people, for the people to prevent |
as far as possible, a superstitious prac-
tice resulting in the destruction of their |
childrens health.
There has been no characterization |
league formed in the United States as
yet, but Mr.. Tebb hopes that the in
dividuals interested in the work may be
able to perfect an organization ere long. I
He left for New York last night, |
where he will spend few weeks work
ing in the interests of the league, for,
as he says, he goes to no place for plea /
sure unless he can do good.
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