Fitchburg's Vaccination

Smallpox appeared in Fitchburg, Mass. a fortnight ago. The first few cases aroused only routine precautions on the part of the Board of Health. Apparently there was little to fear. Smallpox is a vanishing scourge. New Year's week the Government knew of only 339 cases in the whole country, half as many as existed the previous New Year's. At neither time were there any deaths.

By the beginning of last week, however, Fitchburg had 15 cases. To the community of 40,690 that was EPIDEMIC. Mayor Joseph N. Carriere issued a proclamation that everyone get vaccinated. Dr. Robert Francis Burns, chairman of the Board of Health, marshaled the city's doctors. One day 2,500 people lined up for vaccination, another day 3,700.

But not all of excited Fitchburg was tractable. Mrs. Jessica Henderson of Boston had appeared to represent the Citizens Committee Against Vaccination. Go to jail, she cried, rather than be vaccinated. Pay the $5 State fine and keep your blood uncontaminated. Rev. Max A. Kapp of the Universalist Church invited her to use his platform for rostrum. Mayor Carriere and Dr. Burns talked to the proper members of the congregation, and Mr. Kapp withdrew his invitation. Dr. Marion H. Wilder, osteopath, could not be influenced. Mrs. Henderson spoke at his house, remembered that the day was Daniel Webster's 150th birth anniversary, quoted his "The fact of compulsory vaccination is an outrage and a gross interference with the liberties of the people in a land of freedom." Harley G. Bowen, police department chauffeur, hearkened to her arguments, refused vaccination, lost his job therefor.

Other recalcitrants ceased their stubbornness when merchants clamored about loss of business. Residents of small towns near Fitchburg were staying away in fear. Pressure of Business and Medicine won. At the beginning of this week only 30 inhabitants out of the 40,690 were known to have avoided vaccination. Fitchburg was 99.778% safe.

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