Directors of health and boards of health may adopt such measures for the general vaccination of the inhabitants of their respective towns, cities or boroughs as they deem reasonable and necessary in order to prevent the introduction or arrest the progress of smallpox, and the expenses in whole or in part of such general vaccination shall, upon their order, be paid out of the town, city or borough treasury, as the case may be. Any person who refuses to be vaccinated, or who prevents a person under his care and control from being vaccinated, on application being made by the director of health or board of health or by a physician employed by the director of health or board of health for that purpose, unless, in the opinion of another physician, it would not be prudent on account of sickness, shall be fined not more than five dollars.