The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-05

trolled.
1t is profitable in considering such
frightening manifestations as anti
Semitism to note the progress that
has been made since the Middle
Ages. No better source is available
for the study of this progress than
in the classic History of the War
fare Of Science with Theology by
Andrew Dickson White. Cornell Uni
versity's first president.
DR.. Whites work is studded with
examples Of prejudice with respect
not only to natural phenomena and
physical disease, but with respect
also to the "evil" or good" qualities
inherent in various races and reli-
gions.
In the Middle Ages superstition
and ignorance combined to make
prejudice horribly dangerous.
Consider, for example, the perse-
cution of Jews and heretics during
epidemics of the Black Death. His
torian White relates that the Jews,
undoubtedly as a result Of their
more careful sanitary rules, did not
suffer from the plague to the ex-
tent that Christians did.
An ignorant populace concluded
that a relative immunity was given
the Jews by Satan because the Jews
themselves caused the pestilence by
poisoning Christians. Throughout
Europe. therefore. there was the
most frightful persecution and tor
ture of Jews. Hitler's modern po-
groms result from a reversion to
the persecution mania of the Middle
Ages.
BLACK Death
DR.. White tells how In Bavaria at
the time of the Black Death twelve
thousand Jews were burned. In
Strassburg, he relates. Rue Brulee
remains "as a monument of the two
thousand Jews burned there Tor
causing the plague OF l348." He tells
how near Tours an immense trench
was dug, filled with blazing wood
and how in this trench in a single
day 160 Jews were burned.
Everywhere, he relates, this mad
persecution in Europe went on,
despite the efforts Of Pope Clement
VI to prevent it.
Our medieval forefathers had no
notion Of the cause OF most diseases,
mental or physical. They knew
nothing about germs and bacteria.
Diseases were caused by demons or
by Satan or by Jews and heretics
employed by Satan.
DR.. Frederick Eberson, director OF
Laboratories, Gallinger Hospital,
Washington, d. c., relates In his
fascinating volume. The Microbes
Challenge, how in the Middle Ages
some convenient scapegoat. usually
the Jews, was held responsible Tor
pestilence; hence Jews were put to
death, as a matter of course.
However. prosecuting Jews did not
stop epidemics. That was accom-
plished by preventive medicine, the
most important aspect Of which is
education.
Within the memory of living men
smallpox and typhoid have been
controlled and all but eliminated.
tuberculosis in the year 1907 caused
1865, 900 deaths - nearly 100 deaths
for every 1000 people.
In 1910 there were but 10000
deaths from tuberculosis, or 46 per
100, 1000 persons In i943 this had
fallen to about 40 per 100000,
Leigh Mitchell Hodges In his NOV
ing and thrilling story OF the Christ
mas Seal, The People Against Tu-
berculosis published by the National
Tuberculosis Association. tells how In
this period from 1907 to 1910 the
great White Plague dropped from
first place among the disease-killers
to seventh place - the result OF q
nationwide and continuous cam
paign OF education,
What has been done In the case OF
smallpox. typhoid and tuberculosis
can be done also In the case Of SUI
perstition. ignorance and prejudice
involving persecution Of people be.
cause they are different from
others In religion or race or eco
nomic or political beliefs.
An unusually impressive attack.
utilizing the scientific humane ap-
preach, has been under way, for ex-
ample. since 1899 in Springfield,
Massachusetts,.
Prior 10 the demonstration in
Springfield Of how one community
may set about to deal with problems
Of prejudice, hundreds Of competent