An open letter to the Governor and members of the General Assembly of Connecticut : showing the evils of compulsory vaccination and certain deaths caused by the practice of cowpoxing / [signed: Major Thomas Boudren].

  • Boudren, Thomas, -1913.
Date:
[1911]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An open letter to the Governor and members of the General Assembly of Connecticut : showing the evils of compulsory vaccination and certain deaths caused by the practice of cowpoxing / [signed: Major Thomas Boudren]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    'juries caused by vaccination, and all fair minded persons should be willing to agree to this. We do not wish to force our opinions regarding vaccinaton upon anyone and are fully determined that they shall not be permitted to force their opinions upon us. There are too many men in this country with good red blood in their veins, who are determined to resist the enforcement of this infamous outrage upon their natural rights, even unto death, If public health be the plea for vaccination then there is far more reason that the privilege of public suffrage should depend on vaccination, rather than the privilege of education, since it is an incontrovertible medical and statis- tical fact that the school age is actually the least susceptible to smallpox and more susceptible and far more in need of this peculiar law, for the com- pulsory infliction of disease, if there is any virtue in such a medical and legal barbarism. Voters, how would you like to have to submit to a certilicate of vaccina- tion before you would be allowed to register or vote? And, if it is not needed foi you, it certainly is not needed for the most immune age in our population —our school children. We appeal to you, gentlemen of the Connecticut Legislature of 1911, to fairly weigh, the evidence which will be presented to you, from time to time, on this question, and, in casting your vote to decide a matter of such vital importance to your fellow citizens and yourselves, we trust you win do justice to those who have entrusted their welfare to you, by repealing the compul- sory vaccination laws and settling the matter right. MAJOR THOMAS BOUDREN, 188 Elmwood Avenue, Bridgeport, Conn.