Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-24
CompuI.ery Naecinstlon Arslr.


OMAHA, April 22--ro the Editor Of The
Bee; our ancestors burned heretics, and
hanged ouakers, and witches" believing
II TO be for the benefit Of the common
wealth. Just as some would do today "
they had the power and with as little
sense and judgment would those who cling
to the superstitions Of the past. today in
this free America. forcibly inoculate the
bodies OF healthy children with the besstly
virus OF disease, to induce a pathological
condition OF blood poisoning that neither
the tenets OF modern science, nor the eX-
periences In practical life can Justify.
1t does not seem possible that people
or ordinary good sense can for a moment
believe that a healthy child can be a
menace to the public health. That medical
men Of presumed intelligence, integrity and
learning should asseverate. repeat and
reiterate an assertion so preposterous and
erroneous proves their ignorance OF the
very elements OF the subjects whereon
they presume to doRmatize. 1t reminds
me Of the epltaph In a Spanish church
yard which runs thus, II was well, would
be better; took physic and died" II the
vaccinated majority are really protected,
as they loudly proclaim they are, how
can they be endangered, by the presence
Of the unvaccinated minority, who are, as
we are told, the only people who are sus-
ceptible to smallpox infection.
Smallpox is filth disease, and people
who have a pure blood stream and cleanly
body within, as well as without, with
healthful. sanitary surroundings have no
need to fear smallpox under modern, up
to date treatment even IL they have never
been vaccnated. Now since vaccination
nor mitigates Its severity when you have
taken IT, and correct living and sanitary
measures do, then vaccination ought not
to be enforced by law, but sanitary meas
ures should be. Neither the analyst, the
bacteriologist, the microscopic, nor the
pathologist, has ever given us any definite
information as to the specific constitution
of the disease-products enormously styled
pure calf-lymph."
Compulsory vaccination law, has no
analogy in the whole domain of legislative
enactment. 1t is the only instance in this
country Of the statutory enforcement OF
surgical operation. II is the only instance
on record in this nation OF quack
nostrum being forcibly foisted upon the
public by legislative enactment.
Compulsory vaccination invades the
integrity OF the healthy body. 1t attacks
the very citadel Of life. 1t commands that
wound however slight be inflicted upon
every pupil In our public schools, and that
these wounds be infected with disease
matter, OF underlined and unascertained
composition, and of admittedly unknown
nature and origin. Between compulsory
sanitation and compulsory vaccination
there is a difference as antipodal as that
between health and disease.
Compulsory sanitation promotes health,
while compulsory vaccination directly
disseminates disease among the people.
All honest and well informed people
agree that 1t is health. and not disease,
that the state should foster and promote
The policy OF disseminating disease on
the pretext of conserving health is
preposterous, absurd and unjust and would
not be tolerated by the people IL they
knew the facts, and the truth about
cination. DIR. l.. A. MERRIAM.
OMAHA, April 22.-To the Editor of The
Bee: We enclose herewith some figures
as to area in square miles of a number OF
cities. Your readers may be interested In
the good showing made by Omaha.
GARVIN BROS