Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1907-01-09

one of these has been answered. Time has
been tallea to write long letters, explain
Ing the need and wisdom Of vaccination,
giving facts and figures to strengthen the
arguments. No questions have been con-
sidered too trivial to answer. In this cor
lrespondence the Commissioner has treated
the writer's as sincere In their requests for
Information.
DR.. Dixon has also received many anony-
nous letters and slanderous communica-
tlohs. No matter how bitter a letter in
opposition to vaccination has been, If the
Commissioner felt that there was any
chance at all to have the writer listen to
reason he has taken the time Ito CORE
spond at length. Circulars have been sent
out setting forth the necessity Of vaccina-
ton, putting in convincing form the argu-
ments for its efficacy. The public press,
in the opinion of Dr. Dixon, has been big
factor in advancing the cause Of vaccina-
ton
Finally the Commissioners has made adj
dresses in different parts Of the State be-
fore teachers institutes and conventions Of
school directors and county superintend-
ents. In this way he has got in close
touch with the people and exerted a Won
derful influence in breaking down the pref
ucice against vaccination and counteract-
ing the work Of the Observation-Disclosures.
These public addresses have convinced
the people Of the State that DR.. Dixon is
man of the deepest sympathies, a man
with big, warm heart. who loves children.
who is not swayed by an impulse or at all
blind to reason. His opponents have pict-
] ured him In a bitter light, as being hard
hearted and a good deal Of a tyrant. Con-
WINGED by actual experience that the chill
idren in the schools should be made inn
mune against smallpox by vaccination, he
Us determined in his efforts to have the law
lobeyed.
VACCINATION PROBLEM.
/ The right to debar from school child
who has not been vaccinated has been up
held by the Supreme Court Of Pennsyl-
vania during the present year in a decision,
the pertinent part Of which says:-"Vac-
lcination It is said is the infliction OF a
disease, cowpox, on the subject, and II
that can be done irrespective of his con-
sent then the next step may be to require
submission to incubation with antitoxir
I or serum for diphtheria, tuberculosis, can
GER and other diseases, and we have
rather a dismal picture OF the possible con-
/ sequences. II will be time enough to con-
slider such matters when they arise. A,
present the vast preponderance OF opinion
among intelligent and educated people
under the guidance of the best medica
I authority. is that vaccination Is a highly
useful ameliorauve, II not always proven
I tive of one Of the greatest Of the scourgei
that have in past times afflicted humanity
and that the regulation Of 1t by statute
Ids not only a justihable but wise and
lbeneficent exertion Of the police power ovei
\ the public health. When the Legislature
\ goes beyond that into new or more debat
able fields It will be time enough to con
lslder the limits OF its power"
j.. The Department OF Health consists o.
the Commissioner Of Health. appointed BY
4 the Governor. with the advice and con
sent of the Senate. who must be a physi
clan Of at least ten years experience an,
a graduate of a legally constituted medi
y cal college. Associated with the Commits
Il sioner is an Advisory Board consisting o