28o A FARMER'S YEAR 



the workings of conscience upon this matter will be marvellously 

 quickened among certain classes. If the same test could be applied 

 to the case of sending children to school, in six months the class- 

 rooms would be half emptied by ' conscientious objections.' A false- 

 hood is easily spoken, and such an Act seems to put a premium on 

 the speaking of it. Among tens of thousands of the population, by 

 consent of the State, vaccination, in my belief one of the greatest 

 boons that the century has brought to mankind, will henceforth 

 cease to exist. Never before, I imagine, at least in these enlightened 

 days, has such sanction been given to the wretched theory that 

 ' freedom ' consists in giving a man the right to gratify his own 

 whim, however mischievous, at the cost of society at large, and 

 never before has the doctrine of the power of the parent over 

 his offspring been pushed so far. In future an indolent, or a pre- 

 judiced, or a ' conscience-stricken ' father or guardian is to be 

 licensed at will to expose children to the ravages of a fearful sickness 

 and the risk of death, and, helpless though they are, it is by Act 

 of Parliament decreed that no hand shall be held up to save them. 

 Whatever the political advantages, this appears to be a heavy 

 responsibility for a Government to bind upon its shoulders, 

 especially, as I gather from the reports and the speeches, as 

 together with 95 per cent, or more of those who constitute the 

 present House of Commons, every member of the Committee is 

 a firm believer in vaccination, and knows well what may happen 

 to those who cease to vaccinate. O Liberty ! what things 



It seems a pity that the leaders of the anti-vaccinaticn party, 

 who, no doubt, are very honest in their faith, and therefore can 

 scarcely be blamed for endeavouring to enforce it, cannot, as I have 

 done, when a small-j)0x epidemic is raging travel in foreign parts 

 where that prophylactic is unknown or little practised. I think 

 that they would come back with their views much modified. At 

 present they think little of the disease because they have scarcely 

 seen it at its dreadful work. What they lack is imagination. 

 Well, I have heard that Jenner prophesied tliat it would be so. 



As I am discussing the subject, here is an object-lesson in 



