Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-17
MEDICAL AUTHORITY.

The Westminster Review has q de-
partment In which writers Of high
mental power and culture are given
an opportunity OF expressing their
views on timely topics.
In the October number Of the maya
zine we find in this department a con-
tribution on the vaccination question by
Edward Haughton, NJ. d. The very
fact that he Is given the pages Of the
Westminster Review proves that he has
reputation for high mental power
and culture" and that he is entitled to
hearing.
In the first place he quotes Or. Josef
Hermann. the head physician of the De-
partment OF Skin Diseases, Of the I'M
perial hospital. 10 the effect that the
merits Of vaccination are more than
doubtful. Speaking OF his hospital ex-
perience in one OF the largest hospitals
in the world. he says;
1T has imposed on me the duty Of
taking an active part In the bold and
spirited onslaught on vaccination which
Is now being carried on NS1Sl In Swift
zerland Germany, England, and other
countries, and Of yielding such assist
ance as / am able TO give to the I'M
rayeling OF "a question which concerns
in an equal degree the interests of
science and humanity. ! am
convinced that vaccination Is the great
est mistake and delusion In the science
OF medicine, a fanclful Illusion In the
mind OF the diseoverer. phenomenal
apparltlon devoid OF scientific founda-
tlon. and wanting In all the conditions
OF scientific possibility"
Or. Hermann goes on to say that
there Is no foundation In fact for the
allegation that vaccination is pre-
ventiye OF smallpox. He says:
when a man has treated hundreds
OF cases Of smallpox, both under
sporadic and epidemic conditions,
through many years and at all seasons,
he comes 20 the decided conclusion that
vaccination has not the remotest effect
on the outbreak, course and issue Of
the disease Naccinated persons. bear.
ing unmistakable marks Of the process
on their arms, frequently have con.
fluent smallpox, while az the same time
unvaccinated people have Il In the mild
est form. These observations. resting
upon the most indubitablc truth, APP
pear TO have given occasion to the dis
tinction between genuine and
a modified smallpox (varicela),
distinction evidently made with
view OF maintaining at all hazards
the dogma to which yacclnators
have committed themselves, as 10 the
influence Of vaccination In modifying
outbreaks ~ the epidemic. These elm
loal subtleiles, belonging 10 the cate
CORY Of chlmeras have long since
proved TO be lllus0ry. In reality there
| is no such distinction; for even In
mild epidemic OF varicela Tor chick
eupoSl careful observer viii be able
10 discover amongst the sufferers fully
developed pustules Of smallpox pos
sesslng every attribute Of the true and
genuine pustules. In my opinion, the
| severity and extent Of smallpox out
breaks depend on the season. the dwell
ing. and the mode OF life OF those at
tackled and especially on the care that
is taken Of the state OF the skin
The opinion Of specialist in skin
diseases. Of 40 high authority, cannot
but have peculiar weight. And II Is 20
be especially noted that he states fur
Their, that people do not venture TO
vacclnate weak and sekly children
fearing TO make their condition worse"
Now as to vaccination as a protective
easure. The article from which We
have quoted states tina, in Berlin, IN
1870, the attacks Of smallpox were H.