Rushden Argus, 06 Dec 1889, transcribed by Kay Collins

Notes of the Week

A medical correspondent sends us the following extract from the British Medical Journal of Nov. 30,1889, on the results of vaccination among Mr. Stanley's followers in the expedition for the relief of Emin Pasha:—

Mr. Stanley in his letter addressed from Kafurro, speaks of a smallpox epidemic having broke out among the Manyema and other followers, the mortality of which was terrible. "Our Zanzibaris"  says Mr. Stanley "escaped this pest, however, owing to the vaccination they had undergone on board the Madura.''

Will the opponents of vaccination contend that it was nothing more than a coincidence that the unvaccinated portion of the African explorer's band of followers was attacked by fatal smallpox, whilst the vaccinated portion, although living apparently in the midst of the infection and in the same unwholesome condition, escaped the disease.

We need only point out in reply to this paragraph it in no way affects our position, that where there is proper provision for isolation the vaccination of the entire population is totally unnecessary.

Rushden Argus, 27th Dec 1889, transcribed by Kay Collins

Letters to the Editor - The Rushden Vaccination Case

Sir,—I observe in the Wellingborough Post of Dec. 20th, a letter signed John Crew, in which that gentleman practically charges me with falsehood, in as much as he denies she accuracy of the statement I made with reference to the date of the change of milk.

I have no desire to discuss this matter any further at present, than to vindicate my character, and for that purpose I ask that you will be kind enough to insert the enclosed declaration of the parents, confirming my statement.

I cannot refrain from adding that I think Dr. Crew's wisest and most straightforward course, if he wished to correct any error of mine, would have been to have done so through the paper that published those errors, and which is the principal newspaper in this part of the county. It requires no microscope to see through this piece of policy.

Yours faithfully,

Dear Sir,—Our attention having been called to a letter of Dr. Crew's in the Wellingborough Post of Dec. 20th, in which he denies the truthfulness of the statement of Mr. Boyd with regard to the date of the change of milk, we beg to say that Mr. Boyd's statement is absolutely correct.

Dr. Crew further states that the mother of the child told him that she changed the milk the day after she came back from London and that the child was doing well. We beg also to state that that statement is totally untrue.  

The Argus, 2nd May 1890

Vaccination —Scientific Changes

Sir, The article, "Vaccination", which has lately appeared in the columns of the "Encyclo­paedia Britannica", and which has caused such consternation in medical circles, marks a new era in this great and growing question, and in the opinion of competent judges is a prelude to its speedy and utter collapse. Occupying as it does something like 14 columns, it deals most exhaus­tively with the subject, and the truths for which anti-vaccinists have contended and fought for the greater part of the last century, are in a great measure conceded in the article in question, and as befits a work of reference facts are supplied from unquestionable sources which speak for themselves. Among the many points indicated are the following :-

1.   That there is nothing in common between variola or small-pox, and vaccinse or cow-pox, although it was from a supposed equivalence of
one to the other that Jenner's teaching found favour at the outset.

2.   That cow-pox is an infection attended by various serious risks, including erysipelas, and what has hitherto been called vaccinal syphilis.

3.   That vaccinal syphilis is an inherent risk, and not due to any syphilitic matter mixed with the lymph, although it is so far akin to venereal
syphilis as to be mistakes, for the latter.

4.    That vaccination neither protects from small-pox, nor mitigates the severity of the disease in those attacked by it.

These condemnatory statements by a physician and pathologist of the first rank, coincides precisely with those arrived at by that eminent scientist and naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, L.L.D., in his new edition of "Vaccination proved useless and dangerous". This coincidence is the more remarkable inasmuch as Dr. Wallace arrived at his conclusions from a complete study of 45 years of registration statistics. It is upon this evidence alone that a true and sound judgment can be arrived at. Dr. Wallace has lately given the result of his studies in his evidence before the Royal Commission on Vaccination, nor is this all; for from the front ranks of the medical profession comes Professor Edgar M. Crooksbank, M.B., who has recently given to the world the result of his researches upon this subject in his "History and Pathology of Vaccination". In this work a many of the arguments of anti-vaccinists are practically allowed ; this and much of the evidence that has been given before the Royal Commission farther proves the soundness of the arguments advanced by us for years past.

It is a matter of national importance that the character _Of this man should be seen in its true

light as it will then be known what value to place upon Ins and his followers' teaching.    Can there be any marvel that the opposition to laws which make the practice of vaccination compulsory is spreading rapidly all over the country. The injustice of these laws has long been felt, and during the last four years, in this  district alone, there have  been   no less than   248 prosecutions of respectable parents, who have taken a stand against a practice which is opposed to science and common sense alike, and though one of the results of these prosecutions has been the imposing of fines and costs amounting in all to the sum of £145 10s., the great result has been not only the strengthening of the principles of those who have been prosecuted, but the acceptance of those principles by those who hitherto have held opposite views. Much might be said of the wisdom or otherwise of the authorities upon whom rests the responsibility of putting in motion the machinery for the carrying-out of this law, but sufficient has been said to convince unprejudiced minds that the anti-vaccinists have a case, and it now rests with the people to see that it is carried to a successful issue.—Yours faithfully,

The Argus, 15th August 1890

The Rushden Vaccination Case - Question in the House of Commons

In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Channing said : I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that up to the present no compensation has been awarded by the Treasury to William Cheney, of Rushden, Northants, who was illegally subjected to hard labour in Northampton Gaol, while undergoing a short sentence for failure to comply with a vaccination order; whether he is aware that William Cheney was in bad health previous to imprisonment, and has suffered in health from being forced to work on the treadmill and has been unable to work; and whether he will make further representations to the Treasury as to the question of compensation for Cheney?

Mr.Matthews: Inquiries have been made by the Treasury Solicitor, and he cannot ascertain that either the magistrates or their clerk, or the governor of the prison have received any complaint or application from Cheney. According to the information supplied to me by the prison authorities, Cheney was in good health on reception and on discharge. In the absence of any complaint or application from this man, I am not in a position to make any further representation to the Treasury on the subject.

Mr. Channing: Am I not right in understanding the right hon. gentleman when questioned on this case before to have stated that the man was entitled to compensation, on the ground that he has suffered hard labour contrary to the law?

Mr. Matthews: If the man has suffered injury the State will be perfectly prepared to consider his compensation.

Mr. Bradlaugh: Has not a similar case been decided where a man tried to recover compensation against the State?

Mr. Channing: Apart from any physical injury he may have sustained, is not the man entitled to compensation for having been put to hard labour contrary to law?

Vaccination - Twelve exemption certificates were granted on Monday by Mr. F. Knight and Mr. John Claridge.