The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-28
THE TEXT OF HIS OPINION
DIR. LEWIS WARNS THE PEOPLE
OF THEIR DANGER.
VACCINATION is THE ONLY PREVENTIVE
Practically Impossible to Enforce Quarantine
Persons Not Vaccinated May Be
Excluded from the
CchnoIc
Raleigh, n. c., Jan. 81.

Raleigh. n. c., Jan. 81.
Editor News and Observer:
The presence of smallpox in our two
largest cities, Wilmington and Charlotte,
is n serious matter and as the State
Health officer | feel it to be my duty to
warn the people of their danger. The
only practical way to reach the people
to any great extent is through the news
papers, and | therefore ask the publica-
ton of this communication, not only by
yourself, but by every paper in the State
as Il patriotic duty.
The danger of a widespread extension
of this horrible disease is not an imagin-
airy, but q real one. And for two rea-
sons chiefly:
/. A very large proportion Of the pop
ulutiOn have never been yaccinated, and
are therefore susceptible to the disease.
A leading practitioner in one of our
towns told me some time ago that not
10 per cent. Of the children under 10
years Of age in his town had ever been
vaccinated.
=. 1t is practically impossible to en-
force an efficient quarantine. Every one
knows that nothing short of Gordon of
armed sentries on duty night and day
can keep people out, who want to en-
ter a city or town, and our country dis
tricts are, of course. utterly indefensible
in this respect But guarantees which
are expensive, irritating, injurious to
business. and after all Ineffective, do not
constitute the best method of fighting
smallpox. The best method is vaccina-
ton, which is practically u perfect pro-
lection The prejudice against it enter
tanned by some people is unreasonable.
The danger Of vaccination with some
loath6ome disease is absolutely avoided
by the use of virus direct from the cow,
as is now nearly the universal custom.
The risk also of any serious intiamma-
ton of the arm by the antiseptic meth
DDS now in vogue has been reduced to a
minimum. There is no reasonable
ground of objection to vaccination. No
one has a right to jeopardize the health
and life of his neighbOr. In no well
regulated community will he be permit
ted to do it. He will be compelled to
submit. The right of the duly cOnsti-
tuted authorities TO enforce compulsory
vaccination is set forth in the following
1etter from the Attorney General.
Lexington, n. c., Jan. %, 1893.
DR.. Il. Ii. Lewis, Secretary North Caro-
lima State Board of Health, Raleigh,
/ n. c.:
Sir-In reply to your letter OF recent
date it is my opinion that under chapter
pa of Laws, 1893, it is competent for
the authorities named in said chapter,
to enforce compulsory vaccination. The
legislature may, in the exercise of its
constitutional authority, confer upon
boards of health of cities and towns the
power TO enact rules and ordinances
for the promotion of the public health.
and the abatement and prevention of
nuisances, which shall have the force of
law within the communities over which
the jurisdiction of the respective boards
extends. Din. Nun. Corp, Section 30S,
Slaughter House Cases, 16 Wall GU.
s. So.
Health being the sine qua non Of all
personal enjoyment, it is not only the
right, but the duty of the State to pass
laws for the protection and preservation
of the health Of the people. 1t is COM
petent for the Legislature to require
scholars Of public schools TO be vacci-
mated. Abeel VS.. Clark 81, Col. 326.
Any person not vaccinated may be ex-
Guided from school. See Statutes Of
Massachusetts, and Maine.
Yours truly,
FEB V. WAISBR,
Attorney General"
The machinery for the vaccination of
all the people, those unable to pay free
of charge. is provided in section % of
the act cited above; and in section % of
the same, the authorities of all cities
and towns are authorized to make such
regulations and impose such penalties
''as in their judgment may be necessary
for the protection and advancement Of
the public health
So there can be no excuse for failure
on the part of those upon whom the re-
sponsibility rests to do their duty in
this matter. Let everybody be vaccin-
ated and we can laugh at smallpox
There is no other reliable way of ward
ing off that most loathsome and fatal
disease
RICHARD II. LEWIS, M. D.,
Secretary North Carolina State Board
of Health.
State papers please copy.