Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-27
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
!; THE VACCINATION QUESTION.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To the Editor;
One of the gentlemen who compose
the board OF health has pet phrase
and desire to examine Il.
The said phrase is used and relied up
on by this particular member as a
justification of his action In voting for
compulsory vaccination.
Here It is: "A concensus Of medical
opinion Is In favor Of vaccination" This
statement is made with SLOW emphasis
on each word. and with such an air OF
self assurance that this question OF vac
cinatlon Is supposed (by HIM 10 be set
tied once and for all.
There can be no further room for de-
bate on this matter when we are In
formed with s., much seriousness that
"a concensus NJ medical opinion Is In
favor Of vaccii.a,ion." The statement
is SO manifestly conclusive in Its logic
and so whitening In its effect that il Is
intended not only to silence the objector.
but, like lyddite shell, 1t Is expected at
the same time to kill every unsuspect-
ing antl-vaccinationlst within the city
limits.
AS one who has mlraculously survived
the shock occasioned by this mental ex-
ploson. the writer proposes to attack
the central idea intended TO be conveyed
by the above statement viz. That a
majority OF medical men indorse the
vaccination theory.
Suppose for moment We concede
this; what Of It? II should be remem-
bered that these medical gentlemen.
though perfectly honest are neverthe-
less interested witnesses in the case and
their testimony corfesp0ndlngly biased.
II the vaccination theory Is a medical
delusion--a fraud In fact, as many emil
nent physicians declare, II Is not rem
dered harmless or more beneficial by
reason OF the increased number who be-
lieve in and practice Il. This matter
cannot be decided by votes, but by facts,
and as regards these facts the public
are as capable Of discerning them as the
doctors.
With all due respect to that body IL Is
nothing short Of arrogance on their part
10 assume the exclusive right OF ex-
pressing an intelligent opinion on this
and kindred subjects. True. physicians
are supposed to know. and certainly
ought 10 know, more about physiology
and therapeutics than the average in
dlvldual: but that the doctor knows II
all and the layman knows nothing Is
contradcted by facts and opposed 20
common sense.
The mechanic, the merchant. or the
laborer can read English though they
might be puzzled to write a prescription |
In Latin.
For instance, when DR.. Abernethy OF |
London declares that disease increases |
among the people in proportion as the !
medical men increase In numbers" the |
layman can understand this. IL is a
plain, STRAIGHTFORWARD statement, and |
the layman can grasp the fun meaning
OF II and then believe II or disbelieve II
as he chooses.
So again when Prof. ]. Rhodes Bu-
chanan OF Boston says: "Of all known
sciences none Is more unstable and con-
Trajectory than medicine; that II not
only changes from year TO year but
from day to day, In different cities and
In different schools etc." the ordinary
mechanic can perceive what Is meant.
IL does not require medical diploma
TO appreciate whatever truth there is
In this statement.
Again, when DR.. Ramage, #. r. S. c.,
asserts that the present system OF
ls burning reproach to It's
professors; that II rarely does any good
and frequently does harm; that the sur
'erer would be safer without physician
than with one" ETC.; the merchant or
the tailor can fashion all the deep hid
den mysteries In these remarks. To be
sure this kind Of testimony causes the
unsophisticated layman TO think; but
he is not specially handicapped by res-
son Of being an outside" or ordinary