Signs of the Times

[Dr. A. Pulford in Toledo (Ohio) Blade]

I note with some surprise that the board of education indorses a campaign in the public schools, educating the pupils to the benefits of vaccination as a preventive of smallpox. If the newspapers will allow me I will present a few points which I am afraid the board of education has overlooked, or perhaps forgotten.

First, we are of the opinion that there is a permanent injunction on file restraining the board of health from interfering with the public schools. Can the board of health or the board of education afford to face contempt proceedings? Again, anyone who is vaccinated against his will, or whose child is vaccinated against the wishes of its parents, can proceed to collect heavy damages from the vaccinator and his aides and abettors. Can the board of education or the board of health afford to run these risks? If vaccination could prevent smallpox, they could. But it does not, all assertions that it does, to the contrary notwithstanding. Again, there is no state law compelling vaccination, and city ordinances do not take precedence over state law. Again, the board of education and the board of health will be obliged to show cause why a healthy, normal child is a menace in a public school, as well as why it is necessary to disease a child before he is capable of absorbing an education.

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March 27, 1920
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