New Britain herald., 1924-03-14

created by such criminal gossip-and
 the only result was that many people
 were perhaps prostrated by anxiety to
 such a degree that they would be
 quite likely to catch smallpox or any
 other disease that came along.
 That is rotten business. Everyone that circulates such unfounded re- ports deserves the most severe treat
 ment. Such unfoundcd rumors come
 to the office of a newspaper continual ly. People do not like 10 be criticized. | People who have spread such rumors
 not based upon knowledge will be angry at this criticism. But there arc i times and this is one of them. when 1 the feelings of guilty people or care l less people must not be considered. i They should be told just what they are doing, and the newspaper shows 1 cowardice if it fails to state facts, no matter whom those facts may offend.
 Another type of person who is doing great wrong is the man or woman who goes about telling fanciful tales of the futiiity of vaccination. They are the ones who think that they know more than all tfse members sof tho medical profcssior" put together. The Herait does not profess to know anything about medicine. It does profess to know. however, that itwould be wiser to follow tho instructions of skilled and experienced fircmcn in the case of great confla grafton, than 10 under take to put out the fire with people ignorant of how to handlo a fire. Similarly il believes that when dan gerous disease threatens tho people of the city it is the wisest policy to follow the directions of those skilled in the handling Of disease. That is what should be done. The advice of the su- perintendent of health of the city should be followed. Everyone who has not been successfully vaceinated with in five years should be vaccinated un- less it be a child able to produce a physicians certificate showing the child should wait because of some temporary ailment.
 As an example of one of the un- founded rumors this may be cited. A story came to the Herald that a certain physician was an anti-vaceinationist- did not believe in it. Inquiry was made of the physician and it was found the had yaccinated his whole family. There may be instances Of physicians who do net believe in vaccination. There have been instances where people suf- fercd discomfort from vaccination. These things prove nothing. Tho great preponderance of authority holds that vaccination is the only way to prevent the spread Of the disease. Isolated casese prove nothing. any more than ono robin makes summer or one automobile accident proves that auto l mobiles should be abolished.
 Today there Was established a free clinic on the third floor of city hall. Wise and intelligent people will go there and be vaccinnted if they feel tho city should do it or if they cannot afford ,o go to their own physicians. i Tho mayor approves and is strong fer vaccination. Tho mayor is cited merely as one Of the luymcn, not skilled in . medicine, who acknowledges inc sn- perior wisdom of the medical experts and the mayor is cited as ono who | is anxious .conc@ning the welfare Of all the people in tho city.
 Another example Of the wrong atti- i tudc taken by many is the protests made by some at being kept from visiting patients nt the hospital if they , arc not relatives. The superintend- end Of the hospital would be criticiz- th. anu TlEn'lSs VI lF ui1 ii'h 'hl'i'' such an order. and as a result small pox. carried into the hospital by, an outsider, broke ont there were there arc patients so weak that they would . be able to pnt up ? poor fight against the diseasn.
 There is only one way 10 fight this danger. That on" way is for inc peo. pie 10 follow thc suggestions and tho orders of those they have selected 10 lead them and 10 advise them in just such emergencies as this
 one morr word--an q word that will be offensive to some people. Look 8 bout you. The intelligent people of the city arc bring vaccinatod. The ig- norant and stubborn are moi. To which class do you belong?
 HOMf. NIWS