American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-11-03

burgh Witness of Sept. 10, contains notice
OF, and extracts from, small work published
by Dr.. Stark, of that city, on the probable
cause of the continued prevalence and fatality
Of Small Pox." This treatise contains state
monts which will be startling to some of our
readers. The opinion has long prevailed that
incubation, or the having had the small pox,
afforded perfect security against recurrence
of the disease. But this DIR. Stark declares to
be an error. We have room only for the fol-
low extracts:
at has been asceTtained, through the scheme
Of re-vaccination adopted among the Continent
tai military, that the virus has its effect in as
many cases when the individuals operated up
on bad been previously attacked by smallpox,
as when they had been previously vaccinatcd.
According to the official report relative to the
'Re-vaecinations in the Ilanoverian army for
the years ls37-s-9,'n says DR.. Stark, 'It APP
pears that re-vaccination succeeded in only IL
per cent; and was only partially successful in
n per cent.--completely failing in sixtv-two
Oh: Of every hundred. In the army there were
d certain number of men who, instead Of beng
yaccinated, had had smallpox. They likewise
we're subjected to the general vaccinations; and,
as If nature wished to prove to disbelieving
man, that, being once vaccinated, or having once
had smallpox, were identical in preventing
subsequent attack OF smallpox, vaccination
succeeded with them in the same proportions
as with those who had been previously vacci-
pxted.n At Wurtemburg, though the per cent
age of successful and unsuccessful cases was
different, nearly the same proportional ratio
was maintained between the instances of pre-
yioUs smallpox and of previous vaccination
Of 100 vaccnated after smallpox, 80 cases
succeeded, 26 were modified, and AZ failed;
RhiIe of 100 vaccinated second time, the |
number Of cases which succeeded were 81, the
modified cases IS, and the failures Al. 1t is
lnrther shown, that when the disease is once
Introduced into community, and assumes a
malignant form, even the individuals who had
been formerly subjected to it cannot be regard
ed as completely protected,
"lI is stated by Nj. Bousquet, sag the Doc
tor, "that in Matseles, during the year 1925,
ont Of a population of 40, 900 about . 900 had
previously had smallpox; yet of this number
20 were attacked second time with that dis
case, and 4 died. The deaths were therefore
~ the proportion of 20 out of every 100 attack
cd, or ! out OF eyery 500 of those who had pre- |
yiously had smallpox. In the same popula-
lion, 1000 were vacCinated and OF this num-
Der 2 600 took smallpox, or modified small
po1 tVariolold;) OF these only 90 died, or IN the
proportion of out of every 100 attacked, or |
Oh. of every 1900 vacclnl,ed." There are 9TH
er instances adduced, IN which the casa is made
ont still more strongly in favor of vaccination.
We find 1t stated by Mr. Crosse of Norwich,
that Of COS cases of smallpox which had been
witnessed by him IN that town during the course
Of his practice, no fewer than 297 had previous
" had smallpox, while only Q had been pre-
yioasIy vaccnated." Vino, in the possession
OF facts such as these, would yield a moments
ihe alike dangerous and doubtful protection
which incubation Affords"
As the small pox has prevailed during the
present season, TO some extent in Baltimore;
and az cases Of it may yet exist, it would not
be 90 useless precaution in those even who
have had the small pox to submit to vaccna
ton, We have heard it stated that the pro-
lection afforded by vaccination ceases at the
expiration Of every seven years; If this be so,
re-vaccinltion should be rcsortcd to IN order to
guard against this loathsome and horrible dis
ease.
The treaties of DR.. Stark will, no doubt, re-
eeiVe the deliberate examination of the mcdi-
cal professors Of all countries, as it relates to
q sublec: Of great Importance to mankind.