Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-13

several outbreaks occurring in the ten
years lSSl-1S90 inclusive only amounted
to 1921 annually, one SEVENTEEN of the
death rate of pre-vaccination times.
When we compare these terrible insita-
tions of the past with the greatly i'm
proved conditions of the present, we
know that some great change has taken
place and our intelligence teaches us. or
should teach us, that vaccination. to a
great extent, has caused it, aud that
past conditions is because we are neg
lecting, in great measure, to use the
means that science has made possible. /
do not think that | am at all Utopian
when l say that complete and thorough
vaccination will effectually stamp out
the smollpox.
The minds of the public, to some ex-
tent, has never yet been entirely dis
abused of its objections TO vaccination
(and this, in measure, accounts for
the increase in smallpox during the past
few years. they attributing to vaccina-
ton all sorts of ills and even occasional
deaths. Now using the words of the
writer Macaulay somewhat transposed
| will say with all due regards to those
who assent to the contrary "that vacci.
nation doubtless might cause death, yet
doubtless it never did" For out of the
millions upon millions that have been
submitted to it. persons of all kinds of
constitutional ailments, there is hardly
a case of death that will bear investiga-
ton. Even pin prick, or the plucking
of a hair from such multitude would
have caused greater mortality. The
modern vaccine virus is clear of all
septic infection and when properly used
carries none with it and is not regarded
as being possible source of infection.
Now in regard to the constitutional
right to make an effective compulsory
vaccination law. | am not sufficiently in
formed to advance an opinion. The
constitution of the State of Maryland
grants with jealous care the rights and
privileges of the citizens. and the right
of domiciliary visitation is granted only
upon rare and remarkable occasions.
And while it is true the right of quaran.
tine and of entry is given whenever the
public welfare demands it. yet that
privilege has only been granted in the
face of active and immediate danger.
That we can have a more thorough
and complete vaccination of the children
attending school is certainly undispu.-
able, but this. while in measure is a
move in the right direction. is not suffic-
for several reasons. All children do
not go to school or have all adults attend
ed school. to the state are
frequently not protected and even if all
persons have been vaccinated at some
period of their lives. such vaccination
will not cause immunity for all time.
The State IF Maryland is somewhat
unfortunately situated as regards small
pox invasion. occupying as she does
border position, with large wandering
negro population going north and south
at all seasons. The very large inland
commerce in her Waterways. the variety
of her industries. drawing at times large
crowds of people in her mines. fruit
orchards, and fisheries, thus exposing
large areas at different times to outside
infection. Condition of things make a
more thorough vaccination all the more
important and necessary, so that on
citizens can enjoy to the utmost all tf
advantages that nature has given us.
Before closing this short paper
might be well TO see what has been q
result in countries where compulsol
vaccination has been enforced, the mo,
prominent one of which is German,
where most remarkable results hay
followed the law, where with a dens
population. not always living under goo
Hygienic conditions, Variola has a
most been stamped out. France show.
equally good results, and even those ia.
distant countries, Australia and New
Zealand, and Tasmania have practically
driven out small pox by a rigid vacci-
nation and quarantine law The results
in England. without such strict laws,
have already mentioned Some of oui
states have laws much stricter than our
own in regard TO vaccination. and in
every instance the result of such laws
has been benefit in proportion to
their radical character.