Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-27
I0 FORGE vaccination
State Board Of Health Endorses
Plan to Withdraw All Small
pox Quarantine
THE PEOPLE MUST ACT ON 1T
Board of Health Declares No Known
Method of Quarantine Will Control
Smallpox, While Vaccination Is Ger
tain Method and Should be Com
puIsory.

I sAAS
matter and probably will not until the
/ legislature takes a stand, but the bulle-
tin of the board just issued by the sec
rotary from the state house Endorses
the Bracken theory that the way eff
fectually to do away with smallpox
| is to withdraw all quarantine regula-
lions affecting it. This will compel the
people to vaccinate. In the absence of
| law requiring all persons to vaccinate
it is probable that the board will not
attempt to abolish quarantine.
The conclusions on the subject,
which are indorsed by the bulletin of
the board, follow I'VE heartily agree
| with DR.. Bracken," says the bulletin,
lin his conclusions and respectfully
| commend their favorable consideration
| by the laity, especially by our law
makers. as well as by the physicians
i and health officials of the state.
1t has been fully demonstrated that
the proper endorsements of vaccination
will prevent the occurrence of SMALL
poX.
1t has been thoroughly demonstrated
that it is impossible to control small
pox by any known method of quaran-
tine.
Recognizing these statements as true
our efforts to control smallpox should
be based upon vaccination, rather than
upon quarantine.
Without vaccination there is no
reason why smallpox in time should
not again become as great scourge
turnout the world as it was In the pre-
vaccination era.
Compulsory vaccination laws are inn
poftant. These should be demanded
by the laity
Physicians should use their influence
in favor of vaccination, for they know
this to be the only satisfactory means
of preventing smallpox, but they should
not place themselves in a false light
by trying to force legislation demand
ing compulsory vaccination laws.
The people should demand compul-
sorry vaccination laws as a means of
self protection. If the people choose
to follow the leadership of faddists
against vaccination, rather than the
scientific teaching and actual demon-
STATIONS in favor of vaccination then
upon the people should rest the respon-
sibility for the consequences, resulting
from failure to protect against. small
poX by means of thorough vaccination.
Compulsory vaccination laws should
be as rigid as those of Germany,
which require vaccination in infancy
and re-vaccination at puberty.
Quarantine is either evidence of
lack of scientific knowledge as to the
proper means to be employed in the
control of a communicable disease, or
inability to apply such knowledge.
The practical application of known
scientific facts will control the spread
of other communicable diseases than
smallpox. Why, then, should we not
make use of scientific knowledge in the
control of smallpox, rather than con-
tinue the known imprac ticable method
of quarantine now in vogue?
The attempt to control smallpox by
means of quarantine should be ADAM
doned, for it is unscientific, impracti-
cable, expensive and an absolute fail
ure.
The present methods of quarantine
for smallpox should not be suddcnly
discontinued, tut after a sufficient
time has elapsed to permit of the Gre
alton of compulsory vaccination laws
sanitary authorities should take con-
certed action looking to more scientific
methods for the control of this dis
ease.
Dismiss Schooler's Charges.
After making. careful investigation
under oath Of the charges presented
by DR.. Lewis Schooler, to the effect
~
pared by the members of the state
board of medical examiners have been
obtained and sold to applicants about
to pass the examination, the board has
just declared itself firmly convinced
that such charges are without any just
foundation.
No Power to Subpoena.
Attorney General Mullan has handed
down an interesting opinion respect
ing examinations and the number of
times any applicant may be admitted
to such examinations and as to the
power Of the board of medical exam
liners to subpoena witnesses in the in
vestigation of charges. He holds that
the statute nowhere gives the state
board of medical examiners authority
to subpoena witnesses in any event;
and that under the statute there is no
limit to. and hence the board cannot
limit the number of times that any APP
plicant may be examined; that the
statute gives him a right to a re-ex-
animation without additional fee and
right to practice without q certifi-
cate provided ne does not have an OPP
portunity to take the second eXamin-
alton within three months after the
first examination. After failure at the
second examination he may subse-
quently apply for other examinations,
but may pay the fee for each such
examination and there is no provision
for him to practice until he receives
his certificate.
The next meeting Of the state board
of health and of medical examiners
will be held April - and Is, 1905.
The next examination Of applicants
to practice medicine will be held at
the office of the state board of health,
March % and 90.
ROBERTS TELLS OF DEAL,