The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-06 00:00:00

FAILURE OF VACCINATION.

This very serious subject has for some time seriously occu-
pied the attention of the medical profession, and attracted
the notice of the public very extensively. An essay or in-
qeiry into the causes of this reputed failure has just now been
published by Charles Severn, Esq., M.D., with suggestions
relative to the means of ensuring its lull protective influence.
In this essay the author admits the occurrence extensively
of small-pox after vaccination, and also the prevalence of
that virulent disease for some time past in this metropolis,
both of which circumstances have fed many persons to doubt
the protective influence of the cow pox altogether; but Mr.
Severn combats the latter idea, and maintains that the effi-
cacy of the latter has been amply realised, although its de-
teriorioration through the bodies of human beings, to which
it was not natural, ought to be expected ; but that, he main-
tains, is no argument against the security afforded by the per-
fect original virus. The author in admitting that the human
constitution is not in every instance permanently defended
against the loathsome disease, yet that the vaccine infection
will, even under the present imperfect mode of generating
the lymph, prevent the recurrence of small-pox in by far the
greater majority of constitutions, though not in all; and of
the latter, the greater part have the old disorder in a very
mild form.
The author quotes from the statistical tables to show the
great decrease that has taken place in the mortality occa-
sioned by this pestilent disease at various periods, which
proves a very great decrease indeed. For instance, the num-
ber of patients admitted into the Small-pox Hospital front
1775 to 1800 was 7,017, the deaths were 2,277; and from the
year 1800 to 1825 (subsequent to vaccination) the number
admitted was 3,713, the deaths 1,118, not halt the number,
although the population of London has nearly doubled within
that period ; a clear proof that the danger and fatality of the
small-pox have great ty diminished.
The probable proportion of failures iu protecting the
human constitution does not, says Mr. Severn, amount to
more than six in 3,000, and that it possesses an advantage of
ten to one over the inoculated small-pox, and he justly cen-
sures those practitioners who, for a paltry fee, still continue
to spread the small-pox pestilence by inoculating for it. The
author then properly expresses himself—" Should his patient
die, he is undoubtedly guilty, if not in a criminal court, yet
in fore conscientice of the crime of murder." Besides the
danger of life, small-pox rouses up scrofula in all its de-
structive varieties. The author with great propriety sup-
poses the transmission of lymph through thousands of human
bodies must weaken its original power of repelling disease;
he, therefore, most properly recommends recurrence to the
cow frequently, to keep up its original vigour.

A. sanguinary duel was fought with broad swords between
two members of the New Orleans bar, at Bayou St. Louis,
on the 25th ult. The combat was dreadful. One of the par-
ties died of his wounds on the following day, and the survivor
had one arm severed from his body.
The Right Hon. C. Ponlett Thomson, who is now on a
visit at ChiHingham Castle, accompanied by the park-keeper,
went out on Monday, fur the purpose of shooting one of lb.
wild oxen of the breed peculiar to Chillingham Park. This
is an undertaking of danger and difficulty, on account of the
extreme wildness of the cattle not permitting an approach.
To avoid agitating the cattle, the ox was cautiously detached
from the herd, when the hon. gentleman, by a well-directed
aim, despatched the animal by a single shot from a rifle.—
Newcaistie. Journal.