Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-01-24

the still more potent protection OF
small pox itself, have fallen victims
to a secoud Invasion. This fact, to.
gether with the unusual malignity Of
the present cases. evinced the exis-
tence Of a more powerful disease than
is generally met with. Spreading
resistlessly in every direction ; Stay
ing the unprotected; Selling on the
'vaccinated, and laying prostrate e.
ven those over whom it had once be-
fore passed; this formidable epidem.
ic recalls to our memory most force
fully tho direful tale Of its ancient
domination, and constrains Us thank.
fully to inquire why SO few, in so
popuious a city, fall the victims of
its fury. Other diseases, aided by
unknown auxiliaries, become some
times epidemic, and seize on almost
every one within the sphere of their
operation. But they are destructive
in proportion to their extension,
whilst this, which lie leaping over the
ordinary barriers to its progress,
seems to fall h~armlessly on the great.
er number Of its subjects. Can we
remain in doubt concerning the cause
of the constraint laid on the formida-
BILE intruder? Observe his course !
His triumph is over the unprotected
alone. Where he has formerly in
truded he seldom enters again; and
where Gov pox stands sentinel, he
either turns aside or passes harmless
ly atong; neither Staying nor leav.
ing the vestiges Of his invasion.-
But for such protection. We have e.
very reason for supposing that our
homes would have been laid waste
by a scourse from which we Cannot
Hy, because, unlike yellow fever, it is
not dependent on a city atmosphere
for its propagation. Let US not then
reject a blessing. because, like every
sublunsry gift, it savours of imper.
lection. Let us not reject the pre-
sent of Jenner, because it gives i'm
munity only from death, and somc-
times fails to keep of, though it al
ways secures US from the fatal issue
of this disease. IL We reject it viii.
Their shall We fly for security /? Shall
we return to the practice of ~inocula.
ton? Let the SCARED faces and nu.
merous victims of this custom give
US an answer! And let it be remem.
bered that even after all the perils of
this hazardous course have been
passed, the door is not closed against
q second intrusion. The same fell
disease may return, and PROSTATE its
victim in the dust. On the whole,
the present epidemic, So far from les
SEEMING our estimation of the value of
the COW pox, should teach US to ap-
preciate it more highly. Hitherto
we have been taught to place it be-
side small pox, as a preventative a
gainst the attack Of a formidable
disease, We are now entitled to
give it . preference. even in this res
pect. Both have, on the present &C.
casion, failed to ward off all the blows
Of the enemy : but while both have
failed, they have failed in different
degrees. Where small pox has re-
turned a second time, it has triumph.
ed as completely as il it had made no
former invasion, and has often issued
in death. Where the vaccine dis.
ease has failed to keep out, it has al
ways been able to soothe its enemy,
and has not surrendered the whole
citidal to his power. Disease has
entered, but beauty and life have
been preserved.
Statement Of the result Of one hundred and
forty.sight cases Of Small por.
Al cases* occurred in persons who bad
been previouly Affected by the vac.
cine disease. None oil them died.
8 cases occurred in persons previously
affected with smallpox; Of whom 4
died, and 1 recovered.
SO cases occurred in persons who had not
- either disease before; of whom So
148 died, and Al recovered.
OF The whole number, SO were whites, s.
70 persons OF color.
Two out OF the 8 persons who had small
*The cases at the Small Pox Hospital
were registered daily, and all the impor.
tant symptoms carefully noted. Among
the FIRST questions. asked was that con-
corning the previous existence Of the small