The Ordway new era., 1910-09-09
Should Vaccination Be Compulsory

Should Vaccination Be Compulsory
Certain Chinese records show that
smallpox was known In China over
1000 years ago.
In Western medical literature the
first distinct reference to smallpox
comes from the pen of Galen In the
second century.
In England In the last century,
about one.third OF the people were
pock-marked. The annual mortality
from the disease during the latter
half OF the eighteenth century was
about three thousand to every million
inhabitants.
In 1866 to 1869 In Calcutta and Bonn
bay, India, with population OF about
&c, 900, 900, 1000 died OF smallpox.
and TOO, 900 died from this disease
from 1873 to 1876. Japan, China, Co.
chin China. Islands OF China Sea and
Corea, frequently suffer terrible loss
OF life from ravages OF smallpox.
In 1920 smallpox was introduced
into Mexico by the Spaniards. In a
very short time over 3,5OO,OO0 OF the
natives succumbed To the disease.
An outbreak OF the disease depends
on two factors:
First-Individuals susceptible to
the disease.
Second-An introduction into the
body In some manner OF the virus
causing the disease.
The first factor is present In practi-
cally all Of the unvaccinated; and the
presence OF Il case OF smallpox pro-
vides the second factor.
The very great Importance OF pre-.
venting or restricting SO universal
and fatal u pestilcnce is apparent.
The only preventative that can be
universally applied is vaccination.
In 1896 DR.. Jenner made his first
vaccination. Six weeks later this pa
tient was inoculated with the virus Of
smallpox, but it failed TO take effect.
DIR. Benjamin Watcrhousc OF Boston
was probably the first to perform vac
cination In this country.
Previous to vaccination the mortal
ity per year from smallpox In England
was 5000 to each million OF inhabi.
tants. After the introduction OF vacci-
nation, England's mortality was re.
duccd to $40 per million. or the
statistical evidence given perhaps
none more remarkable than
that given by Drs. Seaton and Buch.
anan OF England. In 1863, when Eng
land was suffering from an epidemic
OF smallpox. they examined over
80, 600 school children. They found
among every Thousand without evil
dences OF vaccination, 800 with scars
uf smallpox. And every thousand
two with scars Of smallpox. 1t might
be said that compulsory vaccination Is
against personal liberty. Ones rights
should cease where another's begins.
"The greatest good to the greatest
number" should be sought. One
should be willing to make this slight
personal sacrifice for the public good.
Physicians who argue for vaccination
are pleading for humanity and not
personal gain. Vaccination Is a meas.
urc in preventive medicine, and meas.
urcs which prevent disease do not add
TO the physicians bank account.
1t should be among the functions OF
the boards OF health to provide and
control the supply OF vaccine virus.
This has been provided Tor by statute
In several states.
In order to make the conditions
ideal and provide for the entire aboli.
tion OF smallpox, pure virus, cleanli-
ness and the maintenance OF complete
vaccination In every individual In the
community are necessary.
Smallpox Is n virulently contagious
and infectious disease.
Prior to the discovery OF vaccination
smallpox was one OF the great
.courgcs of the world. 1t remains so
in every part OF the world which fails.
for one reason or another. to Use the
preventive means OF vaccinat ion.