Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-24
DO USE COMMON SENSE.

Speaking in reference to the ahu'tins
out OF 80 many thousands OF children
from the public schools because they
were not yaccInated, Or. J. c. f. klns,
City Health Commissioner is reported
a. saying
THE chances are that a great many
children have been exposed, ana silaii-
pox Ii liable to make It's appearance III
the schools at any time
Surprising that to be true, what pro-
lection Is afforded from the spread OF
coniagion from those who have been
thus exposed. by putting into the bodies
OF the children an animal dlseaseY Is
their cloihlng vacclnated2 Even II vac
olna,Ion would render the children per-
fecuy immune themselves, how would II
prevent their carrying Infection into the
schools II they had been exposed 10
smallpox? Would not yacclnated child
who had been exposed TO q contagious
disease be more dangerous TO a school
than q healthy, unvacclnated child who
had not been so exposed?
II regulation had been imposed ex-
oluding from the schools all persons
who were liable TO carry contagion with
them there would have been good sense
In the rule. The doctor Is reported also
az saying that The board Of health can
not recede from the position Il has
taken in this natter Why not, II the
board has discovered that II made
mistaken The public welfare should be
far above the personal feelings and
pride OF any such body Of men. II there
is real danger OF an epidemic, the very
best means TO prevent Ito spread should
be adopted.
In-all reason and fairness. now, would
not the proper method be TO close the
. schools. II keeping them open would be
dangerous either to the vac6nated or
the unvocclnated chlldrenY II there is
reason 10 believe that number OF chill
dren have been exposed to contagion,
all the vacclnatlng that may be resort
cd 10 win not take away the Infection
that the exposed persons may carry
This Is where the great blunder has
been made by the Board Of Health
and the Board OF Education. No pre-
cautions appear 10 have been instituted
against the spread OF contaglon By
school children. or indeed by adults
who mingle together IN close contact in
dance halls. In theaiers, in public as
semblies Of various kinds, and who are
far more liable to Increase the epidemic.
IL II should occur, than the children
against whom the special and arbitrary
provisions have been instituted.
II smallpox is liable TO make It's APP
pearance In the schools at any time,
what Is the common sense method OF
meeting the emergency? II is folly
in the face OF undenlable facts, to state
that a vaccInated child cannot carry
the germs Of the disease into a crowded
school. A cowpox sore on the arm OF
a child is no sign whatever that It has
not been exposed TO contaglon, and
does not carry In It's hair or its clothing
the germs OF the disease that Is said to
be likely to break out in the schools at
any time.
These considerations are separate
and apart from the contest carried In
10 the courts over the legal powers Of
the Board OF Health. II Is a question
Of the protection OF school children
from an alleged threatened danger.
Even II vaccination Is prophylactIc.
as claimed. II simply acts as a preven-
tive or palliative To the individual pa
tent, but has no effect whatever on the
liability OF the yacoinated person to
carry the germs OF the disease to 9TH
ers. All individuals who have been ex.
posed 10 the disease should be kept
from close association with others, but
vaccination viii have no more effect on
that danger than 1t would have on the
motions OF the planets. DO use little
common sensel