Compulsory vaccination briefly considered, in its scientific, religious, and political aspects : being a letter addressed to ... Sir B. Hall ... / by John Gibbs ... and returned to the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Brotherton.

  • Gibbs, John
Date:
1856
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Compulsory vaccination briefly considered, in its scientific, religious, and political aspects : being a letter addressed to ... Sir B. Hall ... / by John Gibbs ... and returned to the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Brotherton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    particular; and to avoid the imputation of partiality, let us select indifferently from opposing medical sects and various nations. An American medical author, Dr. Shew, commenting on a case of death from vaccination, which was reported in the New York Journal, Medical and Surgical, gives a case of a lady whose health had been injured by vac- cination, and adds:— “ In two other cases, large swellings took place; one in the arm- pit, the other in the neck, lasting for some days, and finally break- ing out in running sores. By questioning closely, we not un- frequently find that children never enjoy good health, after vaccina- tion, however firm it might have been before.” In another place, the same author says:— “ After all the recommendation that this practice has had for the last fifty years, there are yet those who entertain honest doubts as to whether it is, after all, on the whole, a benefit to the race. At any rate, the question, like all others, has two sides, both of which demand our most honest consideration. It is certainly true that vac- cination does not merit the encomiums which its more early advo- cates put upon it; nor is it anything like capable of exterminating small-pox from the world, as was formerly maintained; but that it will, in a large proportion of cases, protect the system from variola, and that in those cases where it fails of this protection, it renders the disease a much milder one, no one will pretend to deny. The only question is, whether, as a whole, it is of benefit to mankind. It is maintained that vaccination, while it affords a good degree of protection from variola, yet renders the system more liable to other diseases. It is affirmed also, that other diseases are introduced into the system at the same time with the cow-pox. Long-continued and troublesome skin diseases appear to follow it, and, in not a few cases, the child seems never to enjoy good health after it has been per- formed. I think any one who has any considerable practice among children in any great city, will be struck with the number of cases he will find of this kind by questioning parents on the subject Not only does vaccination cause subsequent unfavourable effects, but it sometimes endangers life at the time; and, in some instances, de- stroys the child. I have myself known most fearful convulsions to be brought on by it, and that in children apparently of the firmest health.” Again be says:— “ I have been for years so much a disbeliever in vaccination, that I would not be willing to have it practised upon a child of my own. 1 did not, however, know that there was high authority, even among the profession, for doubting the utility of the practice, till
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