The English Vaccination Act.

Manawatu Herald, 20 October 1898, Page 2

The English Vaccination Act.

The passage of the new Vaccination Act in England, with its curious " conscience clause," has caused considerable suprise in America. The New York Herald deals with the subject; thus:— "AH that is necesflary under the Act is a statement from the interested party, satisfactory to a justice of the peace, that he conscientiously belives that vaccination would prejudical to his health* or to that of his children. It can readily be seen that such discretion concerning a purely scientific matter given to any ignorant or prejudiced individual would tend to render absolutely useless all Government con trol of the disease. The real pur. poae of any compulsory act on the part of the Government is the protection of the masses against the individual, and necesarily the inter* ests of the minority must be sacrificed to the safety of the majority. This is the basis of all sanitary legis lation, and enlightened public opinion should always grant the requisites privilpges of centralised authority to such ends. la this country we are happy to say that no such opposition exists to reasonable sanitary laws. Here vaccination appears to be us necessary in its way as baptism, and rightly so. It is perfectly safe to say that the protective power of vaccination is now as definitely settled as any other demonstrated scientific fact. It is a great pity, in view of the settled opinion regarding the incalculable value of vaccination, that scheming agitators, persistant cranks, and wily politicans should strive to render useleseia one of the grandest discoveries of any age. Can England, which gave through its immortal Janner thin great boon to humanity afford to be tbe first to say that tbe honour is an empty one, and that the work of her most distinguished scientist has come to naoefat?"