100 Years Ago: March 29-April 4

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, April 1, 1924: The Indiana Society for Medical Freedom met last night and passed a resolution calling on city school authorities and the board of health to respect state law exempting from medical examination or treatment any school pupil on objection of parent or guardian. The action was taken following Indianapolis board of health orders issued last week that all public, parochial, and private school pupils must be vaccinated for smallpox within the next two weeks. Children failing to comply could be barred from school. Dr. Herman Morgan, city health officer, asked for the compulsory vaccination order to help stamp out the disease after 128 cases of smallpox had been reported in the city. While no unvaccinated children have yet been barred from school, Indiana Supreme Court rulings give such authority to boards of health.