1844

xxviii

VACCINATION.

Frequent objection has been made by parents to procure

certificates of vaccination. The following sections of the law
of 1864, are printed, to show that the teacher or commis-
ioner has no discretion. He must require the certificate or
pay the penalty.

Parents who neglect to have their children vaccinated, are
also liable to be fined.

None can plead poverty as an excuse. The law provides
for the gratuitous vaccination of children of indigent parents.

The great importance of this subject to health and even life
ought to commend it to the prompt acquiescence of all who
have the guardianship of children. Only ignorant and ob-
stinately prejudiced persons refuse to comply. Such, the
law coerces by a fine.

EXTRACTS FROM THE LAW OF 1864.

It shall be the duty of every parent or guardian to have
his or her child vaccinated within twelve months after its
birth, if it shall be in proper condition, or as soon thereafter
as practicable, and if such parent or guardian shall have any
other person under his or her control or care, not duly vac-
cinated, he or she should cause such person or persons to be
vaccinated prior to the first day of November, eighteen hund-
red and sixty-four. Any person failing to comply with the
provisions of this section, shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit
and pay a sum not less than five, nor more than ten dollars.

No teacher in any school shall, after the first day of Jan-

uary, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, receive into such
school any person as a scholar until such person shall pro-
duce the certificate of some regular practicing physician that
such applicant for admission into the school has been duly

vaccinated. Any teacher BO offending shall, on conviction
thereof, forfeit and pay a fine of ten dollars for each offence,
and BO public school trustee, or commissioner, shall grant a
permit to any child to enter any public school without such
certificate, under the same penalty.

All fines imposed under the provisions of this Act shall be

recovered before a justice of the peace, in the same manner as
small debts are recoverable, for the use of the School Fund
of the county or city in which such offence shall occur.

For every child vaccinated, whose guardian or parents are
too poor to pay for the service, the County Commissioners of
the several counties, or the City Council of Baltimore, as the
case may be, shall pay or cause to be paid to the physician
performing the service, the sum of fifty cents for every such
case, on presentation of such account duly authenticated by
an affidavit setting forth that the service was duly performed,
and that the parents or guardians art unable to pay for said
service.

It shall be the duty of every practicing physician in this