Death Quote by Herbert M. Shelton
“I would not go so far as to say that vaccination has never saved a person from smallpox. It is a matter of record that thousands of the victims of this superstitious rite have been saved from smallpox by the immunizing potency of death. But it is a fact that the official statistics of England and Wales show unmistakably that, while vaccination has killed ten times more people than smallpox, there has been a decrease in smallpox concomitant with the decrease in vaccination. . . It might be appropriately asked, in the words of the Vaccination Inquirer”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Vaccination Inquirer, 1900s
The author argues that vaccination may have caused more deaths than it prevented, noting a correlation between declining vaccination rates and reduced smallpox deaths.
In simple terms: Vaccination's benefits are questioned due to alleged higher death toll.
Key Takeaway
Critically evaluate health data before forming conclusions.
Themes
public health
statistics
skepticism
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
controversial
critical
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- medical research
- historical analysis
- public discourse
Key Concepts
epidemiology
risk assessment
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would change your view?
- How do you balance risk and benefit?
A Different Perspective
Correlation does not prove causation; data quality may be poor.
