Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-16
OPPOSES QUARANTINE
DR.. Brocken's Faith in Vacci-
nation Against Smallpox.
MATTER DISCUSSED
MAJORITY REPORT OF COMMIT.
TEE TO BOARDS OF HEALTH.
Created Mild Sensation at the Session
Held Today-Minority Report
Submitted as Substitute.

A sensation was sprung at the opening
session of the twentieth annual conference
of state and provincial boards of health of
North America in the New Willard this
morning by Dr. H. M. Bracken of ST. Paul,
Mimi, who strongly advocated the entire
abandonment of the quarantine method Of
treating smallpox in this country and the
placing of reliance for the prevention and
control of the dread disease on vaccina-
ton alone.
An earnest discussion was provoked by
DR.. Bracken's paper, which was read as
the majority report Of a committee APP
pointed to consider this question. The re-
suit was that a substitute minority report
was introduced by DIR. c. o. Probst of
Ohio. favoring only a modification Of pres
ent quarantine laws. The substitute was
received somewhat more favorably. DR..
Bracken also favored the enactment Of
compulsory vaccination laws. to which con-
siderable exception was taken
The following is a summary of DR..
Bracken's paper:
ut has been fully demonstrated that the
proper enforcement of vaccination will
prevent the occurrence of smallpox. and
that 1t is impossible to control this disease
by any known methods of quarantine. Re-
cognzing this fact, our efforts to control
smallpox should be based upon vaccina-
ton rather than upon quarantine. Without
vaccination there is no reason why small
pox in time should not again become as
great scourge throughout the world as it
was In the pre-vaccination era.
Importance of Vaccination.
Compulsory vaccination laws are i'm
portant. These should be demanded by the
laity. Physicians should use their influ-
ence in favor of vaccination. for they know
this to be the only satisfactory means OF
preventing smallpox. They should not
place themselves in a false light however.
by trying to force legislation demanding
compulsory vaccination laws.
Compulsory vaccination laws should be
as rigid as those of Germany, which re-
Quire vaccine ton in infancy and re-vacci-
nation at puberty
Quarantine is either an evidence of a
lack of scientific knowledge as to the proper
means to be employed in the control of a
communicable disease or of inability to APP
ply such knowledge. The practfca BILE appli-
cation of known scientific facts will control
the spread of other communicable diseases
than smallpox. Why, then, should we net
make use of scientific knowledge in con-
trolling smallpox, rather than continue the
known impractical methods of quarantine
now in vogue?
means of quarantine should be abandoned,
for it is unscentifc, impracticable, eXpen-
sve and absolute failure. The present
methods of quarantine for smallpox should
not be suddenly discontinued, but, after
sufficient length of time has elapsed to per-
NIT the creation of compulsory vaccination
laws, sanitary authorities should take con-
certed action looking to the establishment
Of more scientific methods for the control
Of this disease"
He also urged that If quarantining were
entirely abandoned. the public, which is
now negligent in the matter of vaccination,
would be scared into 1t.
The Minority Report.
The minority report, presented by DR..
Probst as a substitute to DIR. Bracken's
recommendations. which he asked to have
committee investigate with a view to put
ting into practical use, is as follows:
ut is not believed the announcement that
all quarantine measures for the prevention
of smallpox be abolished would lead to
the enactment and enforcement in this
country of laws that would insure universal
vaccination by January /, 1910 Voluntary
vaccination would almost surely leave I'M
protected a large number of children and
other irresponsible persons.
1.-The following procedure is proposed:
when smallpox appears in a family, the
patient should be removed, the house disin-
fected and the other inmates of the house
be Vaccinated and allowed their full liberty,
subject only to daily observation by ply
stefan during the period within which small
poX could develop; or
"Wh&l the patient cannot be removed, the
same procedure should be followed except
that the other inmates of the house. after
vaccination and disinfection of their cloth
ing shall not be permitted to re-enter the
house until it has been made free from
Infection.
Isolation in Certain Contingency.
when vaccination cannot be performed
until four days after first exposure to
smallpox such persons shall be isolated I'M
til vaccination has fully developed
I'm all other cases of exposure to small
pox the same rule of vaccination and quar-
antine of observation, as before recon-
mcnded shall apply.
1.-The only exception to the above Is in
regard to persons with no fixed habitat1on
and no occupation OF visible means of sup
port"
After considerable discussion of the two
papers 1T was decided to postpone the vote
on the question of which should stand as
the sense of the conference until late this
afternoon.
The conference was called to order this
morning by it's president, DIR. John S. Full
ton. secretary of the state board of health
OF Maryland. The reports of the secretary
and treasurer and other routine matters
were taken up and disposed Of The ses-