The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-05-08
DIFFICULT TO DODGE

The following letter from Life VIII
be of interest to everyone concerned IN
the controversy over vaccination. IL Is
an argument for vaccination that Will
he difficult TO dodge.
Shanghai. China, March TO- 1871 Il.
To the Editor of Life:
Dear Sir-I have been particularly
interested in the views aired by your
correspondents on the subject OF vac
cination Living as / do in country
where small pox is a daily companion
OF our lives, | feel that you Will admit
! am in a better position 10 kno"
something Of this subject than the
previous correspondents. whom a pity
ing Providence has rooted in the INIT
ed States.
One OF the points insisted upon by
your anti-vaccinators is the danger OF
vaccination Foreigners here make
practice of being vaccinated regular
ly every two years, many annually; YET
we do not hear Of any injurious re-
suits, possibly because they are par
ticularly careful to keep the wound
covered and free from all cOntamina-
ton. We are especially cautioned
against allowing water to come into
contact with ii while bathing. for sore
but by some extraneous toxins. 1t may
happen now and then that an anti
vaccinator lands on the China coast.
but ne does not remain an anti-Vac-
cinator long-he either realizes the adj
visibility Of being vaccinated or con-
tracts small pox and invariably dies. !
will cite two or three cases in support
OF this statement Not having any
local talent, we import a few variety
entertainers from civilized countries,
Australia and the United States pre-
dominating. They have not realized
the necessity of vaccination in their
own land, and here they cannot spare
the time. Twice within the last six
months it has happened that girl
newly arrived has been smitten with
the scourge of smallpox within a few
weeks.
This letter is prompted by un-
usually sad death today of a bright
young American girl who, with her
sister, had an engagement at one OF
our variety theaters. She was unvac-
cinated, and had refused strongly when
advised by her friends TO undergo
vaccination. She was taken to the
hospital last Wednesday and died this
Wednesday morning, and she will be
that sad hour which is the lonliest and
darkest Of all. / venture to think that
IL this poor girl had been a daughter
or sister of an characterization cor
respondent the sudden awfulness OF
this horror would bite into his soul
even through it's covering of utter
folly and Grass ignorance.
The second case was similar, also s
show girl. The third. a manager o
one of our leading hotels. In January
and early February smallpox rage!
here more than at any other time, be
ing the season when the Chinese ge
their winter clothes out.
At this time it is the custom 70
most foreigners to get vaccinated. II
the bank referred to every member o
the staff was vaccinated, but the man
ager, when approached by the doctor
said he had not the time, and adde,
that he had no faith in it. A fortnIgh
later he was also buried just befOr
dawn.
II any Of our characterization cor
respondents now wishes to test his the
cries dsprove these remarks, lie
him spend a few months in China H
will be quite satisfied of his error or h
will also be buried just before dawn.
AS you are quite willing to publis
letters written by people where small
pox is comparatively unknown.
would esteem it a fovor if you woul
publish this from one who live
amongst it. Yours faithfully,
A reader who marvels,
w A Thomas