Cover of Vaccination a Delusion

Vaccination a Delusion

by Alfred Russel Wallace

Reading level
Fairly demanding
Price
Free

About the book

"Vaccination a Delusion: Its Penal Enforcement a Crime" by Alfred Russel Wallace is a critical examination of vaccination practices written in the late 19th century. This publication challenges the legitimacy of compulsory vaccination laws by presenting evidence that allegedly proves vaccination to be ineffective and harmful. The author argues for the abolition of these laws, framing the enforcement of vaccination as a violation of personal liberty and a threat to public health. The opening of the work sets a confrontational tone, with Wallace declaring his intention to influence Parliament and urging legislators to scrutinize the "ignorance and incompetence" surrounding the Royal Commission's findings on vaccination. He critiques historical and contemporary statistics related to vaccinations and smallpox infections, asserting that data have been manipulated to support the vaccination agenda. Through a detailed analysis of early medical practices and outcomes, Wallace aims to highlight how the public has been misled regarding the effectiveness of vaccination, suggesting that improved sanitary conditions, not vaccination, should be credited with decreasing disease prevalence.

  • Vaccination

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #58918.

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