The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-04-16
Doctors are in Favor of
Vaccination.


ISOLATION of the Territory of Hawaii,
held at the office of DIR. w. II. Taylor
last night, the following communica-
ton, embodying n resolution against
the anti-vaccination bill now in the
hands of the Governor, was read. The
resolution was adopted unanimously,
and will be presented to the Governor
this morning by the president, DR.. w
L. Taylor, and the secretary, DR.
Hodgins. The communication and res
oluton are as follows:
To the President and Members OF the
Medical Association of the Terri
tory:
Dear Sirs-Your committee to whom
vas entrusted the duty of drafting a
resolution to be presented to the Gov
-e-nor of this Territory, asking that he
veto the new amendment to the Penal
Laws concerning compulsory Vaccina-
zion, respectfully submit to the associa-
sion the accompanying resolutions and
recommend that they be adopted as the
unanimous sense of this association:
Whereas, a bill has now passed both
houses of the Legislature, having for
its purpose the amendment of the
Penal Laws, by striking out the pro-
vision relative to compulsory vaccina-
ton, and
Whereas, 1t Is the unanimous opinion
OF the association that If such amend
ment be carried into effect 1t would be
a grave menace to the public health
for the following reasons:
The position of these Islands render
them extremely amenable to contagious
diseases, a fact especially apparent at
the present time when smallpox Is
prevalent in San Francisco, and among
States of the United States; the time
alapsing between the departure OF
steamers from San Francisco and ar
rival at this port is less than the in
Cubation period of smallpox, and fur
Their, the number Of cases is increasing
on Transports and smallpox is especial
" prevalent among the class of per
sons thereon, and
Whereas, there is an apparent mis-
conception in regard TO the efficacy and
IN regard to certain danger said To
attend the operation Of vaccination,
more especially the transmission OF
certain diseases from one person t.
another, and
Whereas, the efficacy of vaccination
IS now accepted by the whole medical
profession all over the world and has
Deen thoroughly accepted as uuas-
sailable, the mass of evidence as re-
ported by statistics going To prove this
fact, being enormous, Che following be
ing a few of them.
In the German empire, according 10
authentic statistics, in the year 1896,
there We're, out of population of GO,
O60,Ogo, only ten cases Of smallpox, and
Germany is the most thoroughly vac
Cinated country in the world. The law
is enforced not only in regard to in
fants, but also in regard 10 re-vaccina-
ton. There has not been a case of
smallpox in the German empire since
1874. In Hindostant, in four years,
lS73-1S16 inclusive, there died 100000
from smallpox. on the other hand,
among British soldiers in the same
country, only two deaths occurred from
smallpox in the same period. In Swe-
ta.z Tor. tVtraf NtNr-F Haf No
introduction of vaccination the annual
death rate from smallpox was about
1850 per million of the population; af-
ter the introduction of vaccination the
annual death rate from smallpox drop
ped 10 1853 per million, and
Whereas, the danger of transmitting
disease has been reduced TO absolutely
nil for the following reasons:
All vaccine used In these Islands is
obtained from New Zealand and taken
from carefully selected and tested
calves and after the vaccine IS OBJ
for tuberculosis or other diseases, and
II found even suspiciously unhealthy or
diseased, the virus is destroyed. The
vaccine Is prepared under thoroughly
Hntiseptlc conditions and Is put M i1
Theoretically sealed glass tubes Vac
nlnation is now performed In the Is.
1nds entirely with ivory points or new
steel needles fresh point or needle
being used for each patient. and there
Is no danger Of any disease being
transmitted by vaccination.
Therefore, be II resolved. that the
Governor Of this Territory be and ne
rs hereby strongly urged to veto said
amendment 10 the Penal Laws. Re-
spectfully submitted
G. b. WOOD.
w. II, MAYS,
ROBERT p MEYERS
A. y. SINCLAIR,