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IS VACCINATION A DISASTROUS DELUSION?

WE have received a copy of the Second Edition of the pamphlet by Mr. Ernest McCormick bearing the above title. Our friends will remember that it consists of a reprint, with additions, of an article which originally appeared in "The Westminster Gazette," August, 1904.

In a "Note to Second Edition," the author says:—

I have made some alterations and additions to this issue, mainly for the purpose of bringing it up to date. There has been no smallpox outbreak of importance in this country since that of 1902–3 (despite growing vaccinal default), and I have left my analysis of those returns to stand as typical.

An appendix of references has been provided, and also an index.

Dr. Wallace's High Praise.

As evidence of the merits of the pamphlet, we cannot do better than draw attention to the following eulogium by Dr. Alfred Russel Wallace, written in a letter to the author:—

"Thank you very much for sending "The Westminster" with your splendid article on the Vaccination Question. It is, without any exception, the clearest and most forcible exposure of the delusion I have ever read, and I am exceedingly pleased that my paper on the subject was the means of converting you.

"You have done what I thought was almost impossible: made the subject intelligible to any intelligent person, and also by your excellent arrangement, your telling illustrations, your forcible and clear-cut argument, and lastly, your really brilliant style, made it not only easy, but pleasant and even amusing reading."

Copies of the pamphlet may be had from Miss Loat, price 2d., post free, 3d.

IN an article on "Nævi and their Treatment" in "The Medical Times" of 8th January, 1910, Dr. Charles H. Miles, Member of the London Polyclinic says:—

Vaccination is a very useful means of destroying a nævus, if conveniently situated, and the parents of the child are not anti-vaccination monomaniacs.

[If vaccination is so "corrosive" a disease as to be effective in eating away a nævus, why should it be regarded as a sign of monomania to object to its infliction on healthy children? Ed., V.I.]