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Vaccination.
There are few subjects just now of greater
interest or importance as concerning the public
health than this, owing to the retrograde action of
part of the Vaccination Act of last year, whereby
the enfranchisement of the conscientious objector
has been brought about. There is a universal
medical concensus of opinion that it is only a
question of sooner or later when epidemics of
smallpox must occur.
This deadly and loathsome disease is not
known to the present generation at all, and parents,
in refusing to have their children vaccinated
are taking on themselves a responsibility likely,
indeed almost certain, to result in calamitous consequences,
and are seemingly entirely wanting in
a proper conception of what is their duty to their
children and to their neighbours. The Government
and Parliament have accepted the conclusions
of the Medical Profession and of the Royal
Commission—have accepted what is indeed the
teaching of a century of world-wide experience—
regarding the value and necessity of vaccination
and re-vaccination if smallpox is to be prevented
or controlled in this country. The result is the
Vaccination Act of 1898, which would be excellent
if it had not the conscience clause. It is the
bounden duty therefore of Sanitary Authorities to
do their best to minimise the dangers that may
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