VACCINATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 152, 27 June 1894, Page 5

VACCINATION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l noticed in your columns that several persons had been fined, with costs, for not having had their children vaccinated. Knowing tbe broad and liberal principles of your widely-circulated paper 1 ask space for the following :— I think we ought bo reject and oppopo vaccination, because, whiles there is no satisfactory evidence of ibs value, bhere is overwhelming proof nob only bhab ib fails to -protect, bub bbab ib is powerful co injure, harming not necessarily ia all, but pombly in any, and is at bhe besb the insertion of a diseased substance of unknown nature and potency into the blood. We oughb bo oppose bho compulsory infliction of vaccination, because compulsion should nob have any sband in the matter, fto man or body of men have any righb bo say bhat their fellow-creatures must adopt and acb upon their mere theory on any topic, however correcb bbab theory may seem to themselves. If compulsory legislation musb be resorted to in matters sanitary, it can find scope much more advantageously than io insisting upon tho dubious protection of lymphing. Let ib apply itsely rabher to demanding universal cleanliness — clean clothing, regular washing, pure, fresh water for drinking and healthy bomee.

Legislators, see to this matter ! .Men, be men, reflect) and act. Women, wives and mothers, exorb your influence, an influence none the less wise and powerful for being tender and true, remembering bhab the hand thab rocks the cradle rules^ie world. —1 am, etc.,

ANTI;-,V ACQ (NATION.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln your leading article on 12th inst. you discuss bhe subject of compulsory vaccinabion. lam pleased bo notice thab you are in favour of dispensing with compulsion with regard to vaccinabion, and should a society be formed for thab purpose I presume it would have your sympathy and supporb. Seeing from your remarks bhab a large number of Auckland citizens are reluctant to have their children vaccinated, I tbink such a society might well bo established. Though situated too far from town to bake an acbive parb,' I wouldgladly become a subscribing member. The objects of an Anti-Vaccination Society would be chiefly to bake measures to bring abaub the repeal of the obnoxious legislation, and in bhe meantime to defray the legal expenses of parents prosecuted for neglecting to have their children vaccinated.

In the article above referred to you own thab vaccinabion is unnecessary in New Zealand, and thab ib is not compulsory in New South Wales acid America. The facb thab it is nob necessary in these countries is very striking. If a healthier mode of living is inimical bo the spread of small pox in these countries, surely thab is the remedy bhab ought to be applied, and is being applied to the older countries as well. But you will say that in the meantime among crowded and ignorant; masses of population recurrence musb be had to vaccination. Thab mighb be co if vaccination were really a preventative. But we have many reasons for believing thab ib is nob. On bhe other hand we believe that it is positively injurious. After \__\l, is ib natural, is it rational to sow impurity in order to reap health? By the way, it is to be regretted that tho teaching of the laws of health is becoming a dead letter in our schools. A few years ago lessons on Laws of Health (including temperance), were given regularly in all i bhe schools in the Auckland province, bub a re-action was caused by an over-zealous attempt to add teetotalism to the list, and now I am afraid there are few schools where these important subjects are taught. Howaver, to return to our subject, those of your readers who are desirous of info.matiou on the subject ot vaccination should read -Or. Alfred Ruesel Wallace's pamphleb on vaccination, in which he proves from the registration statistics of the last fortyfive years thab vaccination is useless, and dangerous as a preventative of small-pox.— I am, etc., J- PIVP.S.—I would be glad if you would kindly supply bhe information -Who are the local authorities appointed to see the vaccination laws carried oub in New Zealand ? [The Registrars are charged with the duty of enforcing vaccination.—En. j