The anti-vaccination party, so conspicuous in a few of our
own towns, have produced an insurrection in Montreal. An epidemic of small-pox has recently visited that city, and, of course, has fallen with tremendous severity on the French, who do not use vaccination, and has spared the English, who do. Out of 1,028 deaths, 987 have occurred among the French, and only 41 among the English. The authorities, therefore, issued a decree making vaccination compulsory; and the French, furious at this invasion of their right to spread death, rose in insurrec- tion. They invaded the Health Office, wrecked the store of lymph, and even attacked the Sisters of Mercy who attend the sick, and who, being as experienced as doctors, have a prejudice in favour of vaccination. The mob, being unchecked, at last threatened the safety of the town, and even showed signs of Nationalist feeling, calling out "Death to the English !" so that it was necessary to call out the troops. Fortunately, the rioters submitted, and no further, disturbance is expected ; but the riot is a curiods evidence of the close relation between ignorance and cruelty. The fanatics were ready to commit murder, and do endure a deadly epidemic rather than accept a scientific preventive, which, it would appear, is urged upon them by their own priests. The anti-vaccinators of Leicester are as foolish as those of Montreal, but we imagine they will be found more practical. When they begin dying in heaps, as they will die whenever the epidemic strikes them—a mere question of time—they will, we venture to predict, instead of murdering the doctors, run to them for lymph, which should be carefully kept ready. Otherwise the Leicester people may lose half their children, which is too severe a penalty for prejudice, however obstinate.
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