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human subject to another. But even if the deterioration was admitted as a fact, it does
not appear how the process of retro-vaccination could restore its efficacy ; and what-
ever its original qualities were, it is not unreasonable to suppose they would be neither
better nor worse for its transmission through the cow. In Dr. Cotes' case, there can be
no doubt that the lymph was as powerful before it passed through the cow as after-
wards, and that, had children been vaccinated with the German lymph on its arrival,
the vesicle would have been as perfect as those he describes. Mr. Sub-Assistant Surgeon
Anunta Chundroba has informed the Director-General that he is of opinion that, if
Hindoos were aware that vaccine lymph, obtained from the cow by retro-vaccination,
was produced by the insertion of matter by means of a lancet into the udder, they
would think that the same process would be resorted to always, and would, he thinks,
decidedly object to cows being so treated, and, moreover, object to the matter so
obtained, because, in their estimation, the cow had been injured. He states that it is
the insertion of the matter by means of a lancet, and the probability of a minute drop
of blood being drawn from the cow, which is the objection in their eyes.
3. Whether inoculation of Cows with the matter of human Small-pox gives them a
disease not to be distinguished from the real Cow-pox.—This is no new discovery.
It was first practised in 1831 by Dr. Sonderland of Bremen; subsequently by Russian
physicians; and lastly by Mr. Ceely of Aylesbury, who in 1839, after various failures,
succeeded in establishing the genuine cow-pox, named by him variola vaccina. " Mr.
Ceely inoculated a heifer with human small-pox by eight punctures. On the fifth day
four of the punctures were large and elevated; the other four were less so. On
the sixth day all presented the appearance of the genuine vaccine vesicle, from
one of which lymph was taken on the sixth, eighth, ninth, and tenth days, which,
being inserted into the arms of children, produced, especially that of the eighth
day, the true vaccine vesicle. Many hundred children were vaccinated from
this source." The mode adopted at first was to wrap round the body of the cow
blankets or other covering of the bed on which a patient had just died of small-pox ;
but it more often failed than succeeded, and insertion of the cow-pox matter (inoculation)
was substituted. Mr. Ceely's experiments succeeded in two instances after many
previous fruitless trials, and the lymph thus obtained was propagated throughout
England. With reference to lymph so obtained, it has been asserted, but by no means
satisfactorily demonstrated, that it is more effective than the stock which has been long
in use, and which has been alleged to become weakened by transmission through
numerous subjects. That form of lymph obtained by direct inoculation of the cow
with small-pox has been found to act successfully, and in some cases too energetically
when communicated to man. It is alleged that more severe constitutional symptoms
are produced by lymph taken directly from the cow ; and those who hold that
febrile irritation is a measure of the due effect of this virus on the system, will, of
course, give it the preference. But many competent observers have adjudged the
superiority of the human lymph as more mild, equally sure, and, at the same time,
entailing fewer accidents.
In conclusion, the Director-General begs to state that his opinion is unfavourable to
experiments being made with vaccine lymph in this country. It is of the first impor-
tance that no doubt should exist as to the purity of the matter employed, and he is
averse to employing such as may be procured from the natural disease in the cow in