The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-17
Western Doctors Theory to
Get Proper Regulations.
A VACCINATED ONE IS SAFE
Remarkable Theory Of MInnesoias Supt Of
Health Would Test Ant-Vacclnat|on
Folks Bsllef-Dr. Chap|n's Views.

IN view or tne desire on the part OF
the health officers and most physicians
all over the country to have more
stringent health regulations. particularly
for stronger compulsory vaccination laws.
the Views OF the executive officer OF the
Minnesota board OF health, Professor II.
NJ. Bracken, NJ. D.. OF Minneapolis. pro-
fessor OF materia medica and therapeutics
in the University of Minnesota. are very
interesting and somewhat startling as
we'll
He suggests that II after suitable
time proper laws OF a general vaccination
are not provided. quarantine OF small
pox patients be abandoned. and they be
allowed TO roam at large. Then there
Will be such a demonstration OF the inn
munity from contagion afforded by vac
cination that the most sceptlcal will be
convinced.
SUMMING UP PLAN.
To his views in the main DR. Charles
v. Chaplin. superintendent OF health in
this city. subscribes
DR.. Bracker sums up as follows:
IL has been fully demonstrated that the
proper enforcement OF vaccination will
prevent the occurrence OF smallpox and Il
is impossible to control this disease by
any known methods OF quarantine
Recognizing this fact our efforts 10 con-
trol smallpox should be based upon vac
cination rather than upon quarantine.
Without vaccination there Is no reason
why smallpox In time should not again
become as great a scourge throughout
the world as II was In the prevaccination
era.
Compulsory vaccination laws are I'm
portant These should be demanded by
Ma lalty.
Physicians should use their influence in
favor OF vaccination. for they know this
20 be Ine only satisfactory means OF pre-
venting smallpox. They should not place
themselves I'm n false light, however, by
trying TO force legislation demanding com
pulsory vaccination laws.
The people should demand compulsory
vaccination laws as a means OF self-pro-
lection But II they choose to follow the
leadership of faddists against vaccination,
rather than scientific teaching and actual
demonstrations In favor OF vaccination,
upon themselves should rest tho respon-
eibility for the resulting consequences.
SHOULD ABANDON QUARANTINE
Compulsory vaccination laws should be
as rigid as those OF Germany, which re-
uuire vaccination In infancy and revac-
cination at puberty.
lack OF scientific knowledge as to proper
means TO be employed in the control OF
n communicable disease. or OF inability
TO apply such knowledge.
The practical application or known
scientific facts will control the spread or
other comm unicable diseases than small
box. why. then. should we not make use
OF scientific knowledge In controlling
smallpox, rather than continue the known
impracticable methods OF quarantine now
in vogue?
The attempt to control smallpox by
means OF quarantine should be abandoned.
for Il Is unscienthc. impractlcable, expen-
Give and an absolute failure
The present methods of quarantine for
smallpox should not be suddenly discon-
tlnued, but after a sufficient length OF
time has elapsed to permit OF the creation
NJ compulsory vaccination laws. sanitary
authorities should take concerted action
looking 10 the establishment OF more
scientific methods for the control OF this
disease.
WHAT DIR. CHAPLIN SAYS.
DIR Chaplin says in regard to the views
OF DR.. BracKen:
In the main I agree with you most
heartily It Is. indeed, too true smallpox
can never be stamped out by compulsory
Isolation, though this procedure In GER
erfectual for a limited area. also agree
with YOU as TO the hopelessness OF secur-
ing compulsory vaccination through the
efforts OF health officers and physicians
The demand must come from the pub
lie.
Your PROPOSALS are reasonable but do
not think you can secure concerted action
on the part OF sanitary officials.
II Is a big contract 10 make scientific
sanItarians out OF routine disinfectors
and nuisance inspectors. Moreover, l am
afraid even you and cannot do exactly
as we think best One should not be too
far ahead OF the public. The health officer
should be in the lead but within hailing
distance
A prominent authority says Of injuries
from vaccination: These do occur and
some are directly due 10 contaminated
virus, while others either 10 lack OF care
IN the vaccination or 10 the faulty treat
ment OF the vaccinated wound.
There Is no excuse for n vaccine virus
which Is rich In pathogenic organisms be-
ing sent out from laboratory, yet not n
little Of just such virus is being market
Cd. This is particularly true In the sum
rner time when the lo;.gevity OF the vac
cine virus Is an unknown quantity.
The commercial people seem 10 want n
virus that will take T. e. that will
make n sore. for II the virus fails TO
hke, the uaue goes 10 competitor.
Some authorities attach but little import
ence 20 the presence OF bacteria I'm the
vaccine virus
Nearly all vaccine producers hold this
view. and I'm the event that some accident
occurs have on hand all manner Of ex-
plantations and excuses An accident fol-
p lowing vaccination docs almost as much
harm as a case Of smallpox, for Il pro-
vents the acceptance OF vaccination by
the laity.
III vaccine virus could he prepared,
tested for the freedom OF pathogenic bac-
teria and sent out for immediate use by
physicians. there would be fewer com
plants than under the present system.
DR.. Brackens paper was read before
conference OF state and provincial boa rds
81 health at Washington this year.