Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-21
so FAR, so GOOD,

The state Board OF Health appears 70
have decided not to attempt to exceed
IFS lawful powers in reference to COM
pulsory vaccination. It has recon-
mended the proper authorities OF eaeh
town where smallpox exists to enao,
rules compelling the vaccination Oh
children before being allowed to enter
the public schools, and also the Vaoc'na-
t,on of all other persons whom 'heS
have reason to believe have been on
may be directly exposed to the disease
That is very different to attempting 70
exercise powers with which mat OOus
Is not legally endowed.
We are Of the opinion that the au-
thorities In those towns VIII De very
careful as to adopting measures Tor
any such purpose, that will infringe up
on The rights Of American citizens. we
would much rather trust the matter In
their hands than in those of medical
practitioners who are welded to the
notions which constitute present
theories on the vaccination question.
We do not think there Is very much
danger Of healthy school children IN
many places in this State, being smut
out of the public schools which they
have right to enter and which The law
requires them TO attend, simply because
they have not been impregnaled with
a vile disease. transferred 10 them Dy
putrld matter from an inoculated can
Nor do we believe that many town
councils will go TO the length OF enact
ing a rule that would compel persons 10
be yaccinated. "whom they have reason
20 believe have been or may be directly
exposed to the disease" OF smallpox
MAY be" ls o very vague expression
and what people may believe opens
a Tremendous field Of conjecture Inc
advice Of the Board Of Health is within
the limits 81 its lawful powers. but does
not strike the public mind with IFS ex-
traordinary comprehension OF legisla-
tive authority.
The question Of the benefits or other
wise OF the vaccination practice, Is one
worthy the close attention Of the medi-
cal faculty. We are aware that In the
orthodox school Of medicine II Is con-
sidered settled thing. Properly grad
uated doctors have been trained TO view
the matter in this light They are Ike
graduates In orthodox theology In this
respect The idea that these so-called
settled theories are open TO dis
pute. causes a satisfied smile
upon their contented countenances. But
the alleged Science" Of medicine has
been subject 10 so many radical
changes. the experience Of one age en-
tirely upsetting the professed knowl-
edge Of previous periods, that progress
siye minds ought TO be open TO further
light and be very careful not 10 be too
tenacious as TO the past.
We have received the following letter,
TO which We give place in this connec-
ton, and we echo the sentiment con-
tanned In It's postscript. Let the debate
come onl
Salt Lake City. Utah, Dec. 20, 1899.
To the Editor:
"sir-I am more than pleased to see
the stand that You have taken in re-
gard TO the vaccination question Your
position In the matter Is the progres-
siye and right one. Vaccination is a
relic OF barbarism. older than anthem
tic medicine, and should be relegated 10
the shades Of oblivion along with
bleeding and salvation. The human
family are already sadly afflicted with
a multiplicity OF diseases, and were
they not held in submission TO a domi-
neering medical profession would ban
ish the man or men who dared 70 add
anything further TO their misenes.
Vaccination positively does not pro-
tect the persons Yaccinated from small
IPAf gNA AaNiAaA Ahso AAiN AARAV
liable 20 disease. In vaccinating
healthy human beings you have in
fected them with a loathsome disease
intended by the Creator TO aillict only
the brute creation. and yet misguided
medical profession insist that the peo-
pie must not only suffer with their own
ills, but must take on those Of the ami
mails also
THE average doctor Is an honest in
divldual and ordinarily works for the
good OF his patients, but too often he
takes for granted that what his alma
mater and the common authorities say
Is the truth and does not stop TO in
vestigate for himself the real facts In
the case. IL he had. the theory of vac
cinatlon would have been as dead as
Caesar half century ago.
I'VE are just now going through what
England did some years ago, and when
the doctors and the people are COM
PEELED 20 look up the subject and statis-
ties for themselves. the same result will
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. win cease.
&c. w. HARVEY. ND.
'fP. ST. should like very much to see
some Of our most prominent medical
men who are advocates OF vaccination
attempt to reply TO the challenge Of n
US. q. w. H."
A TERRIBLE BLUNDER.