The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-14
AS TO VACCINATION

The present agitation over the vacclna-
ton question is merely an eruption OF an
incredulity that is always entertained by
a minority. Of persons in regard to every
theory accepted by the majority. In our
opinion the persons who oppose VAGINA
ton are in about the same category as
those who refuse to accept the Copernlcan
theory of the universe and prefer the
Koreshan idea-that the surface OF the
earth is merely the inner surface OF the
wall Of a huge ball. the sun, stars, and
moon being in the enclosed cavity. Wlthln
a few years the Koreshans have displayed
renewed activity and, like our friends the
Observation-Disclosures, have been given
plenty of publicity and abundant oppor-
tunity to exploit their ideas.
II the inductive method of gaining
knowledge is of any value whatever 1t
would seem that the case for vaccination
is impregnable.
The local experience is in line with
results elsewhere. DR.. Hall shows that,
although from 70 to 80 per cent of the
people of Minneapolis have been vaccinated
at some time in their lives, Of the SUI
cases of smallpox occurring in the city IN
the thirteen months he has been health
commissioner but five of the unfortunates
had ever been vaccinated. and in four OF
those cases there was evidence of imper-
feet vaccination.
The i-vaccinationists make much OF
the fact that vaccination is not enforced
in England London seems to be suffering
the consequences. There is an epidemic OF
the disease in that city now, and the death
rate has been IA per cent in the cases OF
persons who had been vaccinated, IS per
cent in doubtful cases, and 5O.5 per cent
when the patients had not been vacci-
mated. %, .s.- ST" r.... ..-'... ..-s. q
Vaccination seems to have stamped
smallpox out of Porto Rico. The military
government there in 1899 was in posi-
ton to compel the doing of what it wanted
done. 1t met the smallpox epidemic with
enforced vaccination of practically the
whole population, 100000 persons being
operated upon. The work was concluded
on June 30, In the prior six months 242
persons in the island died from the dis
ease In the seven following months there
was only one death and altogether since
June 80, 1899, there have been only three
! deaths from smallpox in Porto Rico, the
annual death rate being Is as compared
with GIL prior to this wholesale vac
cination.
The army contributes other proofs OF
out smallpox in Holguin, Cuba, where there
were 1,1S5 cases when the army took hold
a thoroughly vaccinated regiment being
detailed to do guard duty. Not a single
one of the soldiers contracted the disease.
Vaccination has overcome smallpox
in the Philippines, the latest reports say
ing that though it was prevalent and
deadly at first it has now almost Zdisap-
peared.s-. .a ,-4s e.,.t. 5.E ...s...
A remarkable proof of the efficacy Of
vaccination comes from Philadelphia. OF
fifty physicians, nurses and attendants
| freely exposed to the contagion none
! contracted the disease and all had beer
| thoroughly vaccinated. Some sixty work
men were engaged in constructing pa
vlion in close proximity to the, smallpo.
patients. Only one of these workmen re-
| fused vaccination, probably relying upor
his vaccination in infancy. He was the
only one of the lot to get the disease. Al
unvaccinated garbage wagon driver ant
several other unprotected individuals, wht
merely entered the grounds, contracted
the disease. Of the 346 cases of sma1lpo,
in Chicago in the last three years, 3O6 hat
never been vaccinated at all and in mos
of the remaining cases it was very doubt
! full whether the vaccination had been wha
doctors call a successful vaccination, tn
kind of vaccination that is meant when i
is said that it 'takes.' Proofs of THU
kind might be heaDed up indefinitely
+: AS we have said before it is the &C
cepted wisdom of the age that vaccination
/ is :. preventive of smallpox. The in
dividual should accept it as readily a
spectacles for impaired vision.