Hawkes Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 765, 28 February 1870, Page 2

Hawkes Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1870.

The subject of compulsory vaccin ation has recently been discussed pretty warmly in the Auckland papers. The discussion originated in the Provincial Council, in committee of supply, on the item, "Vaccination, .£150," which Dr. Stratford moved be struck out. on the ground " that the present mode of vaccination was dangerous to individuals, and destructive to the public health, and it would be highly prejudicial for the public vaccinator to continue The operation from matter from the human system/' Several members took part in the discussion that fol lowed, during which it was shown that a law had been made compelling vaccination, and an officer appointed, who had performed a portion of his duties already, and, therefore, it was necessary to make provision for the; year, even though " vaccination from the heifer " should be adopted. Reference was also made to the late vaccine officer, whom it was said ha . acknowledged the office to be a sinecure. The item was ultimately passed. The discussion, however, has been continued, as we have said, in the Auckland papers, by Dr Stratford on the one hand, and Drs Day and Tassell (the late and present vaccinating officers), on the other, —the former maintaing that hereditary diseases, particularly syphilis, are sometimes communicated to a previously healthy person by the use of impure lymph in vaccination; and the others maintaining the extreme improbability of any such case occurring. Both parties refer confidently to a prize essay on the subject by Dr Ballard, medical health officer for Islington, who, after showing that in the remote 'mountain districts of the Alps whole communities have been infected by the hereditary diseases introduced by arm to arm vaccination, where never before anything of she kind had been known, goes on to show that such a case is extremely rare, —not one of the greatest vaccinators of the day in France and England having ever met with such a case. During sixty years experience of the French academy, 200,000 infants were vaccinated, and not a single instance of syphilis had been seen to result; neither had a single well-authentica-ted instance occurred in Great Britain, —the most experienced vaccinators, public and private, positively denying having ever met with a case amongst the many millions vaccinated. Even Dr Bicord, who it seems was the first person that made public the A lps cases, does not regard them as sulncident to condemn the usaal practice of vaccination. He says, tf Is the enemy at our gate? Is it syphilis that is theie, threatening to invade our hearths under the guise of yaccine:? No; you know that it is not. It is not syphilis—it is the small pox that is at our gate." Finally it ,is argued that whereas in Ireland alone in 1838, 6000 persons died and 20,000, others were disfigured for life by small pox, in 1868

in consequence of arm to arm vac cination the deaths from this cause were reduced to nineteen, and not a solitary case of syphilis from this cause was known. "Why, then," says Dr. Day, "should we ignore in the matter of vaccination the principles which guide lis in every-day life? Which of us fears to undertake a voyage to the Thames because the Royal Alfred may possibly blow up on her way 1 ? Who hesitates to entrust a letter to the post office because it may possibly be lost in transitu ? Each event is possible, but in the highest degree improbable, and just so with syphilis." Its improbability is so great as notto affect the argument in favor of vaccination, although it has been shown to be just possible. With regard to vaccination direct from the heifer —" animal vaccination " —it seems that there are difficulties in the way. A cow having the genuine pock is not likely to be found in a country as yet unvisited by smallpox ; and if such were found, the practice is attended with so much difficulty and trouble, requiring the time of a person to be entirely de-l voted to this one object. It has to he perpetuated from one animal: to another by weekly operation, requires the utmost care and attention, and would cost no less than £I,OOO per'year to cany out. Notwithstanding all which, it seems to be the i l preferable practice, and no doubt will be adopted as soon as practicable.