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55
Freedom from small-pox for a number of years has produced with
the public generally a feeling of security, which a more accurate
knowledge of the disease fails to justify. The natural tendency
of humanity is to think little of a danger which is remote,
and consequently a feeling that it is unnecessary to take any
precaution against it. It is only when Small-pox is actually in their
midst that they lose indifference; then, a panic-stricken desire to
protect themselves and their children is manifested; but usually
the change of mind comes too late, and many innocent children are
sacrificed or maimed for life through the indifference of their parents.
The propaganda of those, who are opposed to vaccination entirely,
has helped to increase the feeling of the public generally, that the
operation is unnecessary; but the most important factor, in my
opinion, in bringing about the present un-vaccinated condition of the
infant population, was the appointment of a Royal Commission
which did not report finally until 7 years after its appointment.
Naturally, the existing uncertainty must have been very much
increased by the appointment of a commission to enquire into the
subject of vaccination at all; how much more must that have
increased, and with it the resolution on the part of the public to
have nothing to do with the operation, as year after year passed,
and no sign of a decided opinion in favour of vaccination came from
the commission. It cannot be wondered at that the public hesitated
when so much delay and hesitation was shown by the Royal
Commission, nor that the public continued to hesitate, when the
Government promoted the Act of 1898.
The question naturally arises, can anything be done to successfully
alter this state of affairs? The condition of the public with
respect to vaccination is much worse now than before the Royal
Commission on Small-pox was appointed. Their report, which was
a conclusive testimony of the value of vaccination and re-vaccination,
had no effect upon a public, which had been allowed, during seven
years, to lapse into a condition of torpor on this subject.