Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-14
CHARGED TO VACCINATION.
Statement that The Spread Of Smallpox Was
Because Of Il,
Some Views OF one who Has Been
Familiar with the Disease
Here aud Elsewhere.


sat l4the Nltgt lStS' 40 AVN
To the Editor
l wish to call your attention to the
feet that the spread Of smallpox In the
western part Of town Is now being
charged TO vaccination, IN large
degree. The way is this; In two fam
lies where the disease first broke out
In the vicinity Of the Lincoln school
the parties were blamed for permitting
their children to attend the school, and
TO mlngle with other children Now
that the quarantine is raised, the par
ties are able 10 make their defense
which seems most reasonable one,
and send It for the information Of the
News readers, that the families ac-
cused Of spreading the disease may be
set before the public in a proper light
one Of them puts the case In this
way: MY children were vacclnated
early In the year, and the vaccination
took effect, so that the doctor said II
was successful and they were proof
against smallpox. or course | believed
him, for / thought he knew, and that
he would not msrepresent When my
children took IN few weeks ago, l be-
lieyed II was only slight cold never
suspected smallpox. When few pus-
tules came. I believed they were only
cold sores, FOR the children were not
then ill When IL was suggested that
they might be getting smallpox, / said
no, they had been vacclnated, and were
safe against It, My confidence In vac
oination and the Doctors statement
w9s so great that thought no further
OF the matter then, and allowed the
children 10 go out. / never would have
done so, and exposed the public TO the
disease, IL had not thought them safe
through vaccination. ! was as much |
surprised and chagrned as any one |
could be when the doctors said my /
children had smallpox, after being sue
cessfully yaccinated
The statement Of the other party Is /
In substance the same. The confidence |
in vaccination as the only known pre-
yentlye" was perfect.
This is the sum Of the charge against /
vaccination as | learn II from the peO-
pie In the locality. who believe largely |
that II there had been less confidence
In the preventive quality OF the vac
cination there would have been less
have seen very many cases OF small
pOX here and elsewhere / have seen
very many cases OF vaccination Some
times people die OF smallpox, and some
times they die OF vaccination. Some
times vaccination seems 10 alleviate
and sometimes It does not
Sometimes the effect OF vaccination Is
worse on the subject than smallpox
and sometimes Il Is not. There are
some people who, unvaccinated, win
not take smallpox. There are some peo-
pie who, yacclnated. will not take
smallpox, Whether 1t is the natural
immunity that has saved them In both
cases cannot say; neither can the doc
tors. have seen as many smallpox
cases as the average doctor In this part
Of the world.
During the period since vaccination
was introduced the rayages OF smallpox
have decreased as the statistics show
There also has been greater care IN
sanitary matter-much greater, Is II
the vaccination, or the improved sani-
tation. Some doctors say both: some
vaccinations some say sanitation. There
IS no definite knowledge. / believe that
the extra care people usually take OF
themselves when yaccinated In a time
of smallpox goes long way toward
keeping them from the disease. But II
hey neglect 10 take the care, the vac
zine does not always protect them. No
responsible. experienced
physician will say that vaccination Is a
iure preventive OF smallpox, though
most Of them believe It is a palliative.
only amateurs claim positive protec-
ion. l believe myself II is palliative
n many cases. My belief Is based on
observation. do not claim positive
Now as to compulsory vaccination. {
fought TO be introduced in this State. by
aw. have seen its effects. Here are
ome OF them: {
IA compulsory vaccination law az q
ects all persons and all seasons. I'm
Ter such statute, those individuals
yho are liable 10 the dangers OF vac
inatlon are forclbly subjected thereto
When there is no smallpox about To
hem vaccination Is a serious menace
which at best should not threaten them I
kept In times OF smallpox epidemic. |
Inder a compulsory law, the risk ia
hem Is taken without due occasion.
2'-Vaccination, compelled In times OF
10 danger from the contagion. often
wakens 70 permanent injury Of the in
iyidual latent diseases that without Il
light not be given life, or might be n
radieated in time from the system. =
his, as every doctor knows Is moi a !
hing 10 play with. 4
S.-Cases OF bad results in vacclna. /,
lon, compulsory or otherwise. are NOT n
s numerous among children as among =
rown folks. But there are bad results a
tin adult persons under 20 or an Il
ears Of age, who are in good health
aecination usually causes a few davs'
Iekness, considerable pain, and then
ie effects apparently pass away. such
accinated people often escape small
OK when they come In contact with I,
adult persons who are IN moor
ealth commonly meet with serious ana
iten permanent bad results from vac. u
nation. V''' 'aV- dl
e-Adults OF upwards OF 10 year, Of. b