" GOOD CHARITIES "
Sin—There can be no disputing the fact that anti-vivisection societies are " good charities " to the extent that (to quote Mr. Rodenhurst's words) their activities " include opposition to the treatment introduced as the result of cruel experiments on animals." However, when he continues with the words " and seem to be against the physical well- being of the community," he is no longer on sure ground. Dr. Hill's statement was inaccurate to the extent that he should have used the word " dissuade " instead of " prevent." The union of which Mr. Rodenhurst is secretary is, by means of prominent posters and perhaps other printed matter, endeavouring to convey to present and future members of H.M.'s Forces the fact that they are entitled to refuse in- oculation and vaccination, and the method involved is definitely dissuasion by the method of incorrect representation of the issue at stake. It is common knowledge in the Services that no serviceman can be compelled to undergo a surgical operation, dental treatment or inoculation.
Speaking from my experience when a serving officer, I should say that these attempts at dissuasion against inoculation have achieved little if any success amongst soldiers, least of all, perhaps, amongst those who are serving or have served in certain tropical countries where diseases of a type are endemic amongst the natives, and that previous immunisation by inoculation has been proved to be of great value not only amongst the whites but also amongst the natives as a means of prevention of or lessening chances of spread of disease. I opine that the comparative few who have absorbed the union's posters have re- garded their contents as the emanations of " cranks " (which, indeed, is the case). I have never myself known a case where inoculation was finally refused after those concerned have been reasoned with by their officers or their medical officer, no coercion being employed
Apart from " saving his own skin," the average man will hesitate before making an omission which may place the lives of his comrades in jeopardy. He realises, too, that he owes it to his country to main- tain himself physically fit. The dissuasion aspect of the union's aims is detrimental to the war effort and therefore strongly to be con- demned. Every avoidable casualty in our fighting forces and civil-defence workers, to say nothing of those working in armament factories, is deplorable at a time when man-power is at a premium.
To class vaccination as a " dangerous primary operation in an adult" (words attributed by Mr. Rodenhurst to the Ministry of Health) seems to me a gross exaggeration in the overwhelming majority of cases, and one would welcome medical opinion upon this point and upon the last five lines of Mr. Rodenhurst's letter. For obvious reasons such issues should not remain unchallenged, above all in times like the present—Yours faithfully,
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