The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-18
VACCINATION AND RE-vACCINA-
TION.

when the Small PoX is prevailing TO a great
or or less extent in this vicinity, some facts
in relation to the history Of Vaccination, and
the orient Of its preventive potccr, may not be
wholly unnterestig TO your readers.
1t is to the indefatigable zeal of DR.. Jenner
that the world is indebted for the discovery
Of Vaccination. lie appears, very early in
life, to have had his attention fixed bya pop
ular notion, among the peasantry of Glouces-
tershire, (Eng) the existence ofan affec-
ton in the cow supposed to afford security
against the small poX;but he was not success
ful IN convincing his professional brethren
ofthe importance of the idea, and so distaste-
full did the subject of the kine-pox become to
them, that at length he was compelled TO a
bandon all attempts to interest others in the
inquiry. His own ardor, however, was una
bated, and for nearly twenty years lie contn-
ued without interruption to follow his favor
tic pursuit. Jenner was impressed with the
practcabity ofpropOgating the kine-poX by
incubation from the COW first, and suisse
quently from one human being to another, so
as to perpetuate the disorder. This magnf-
cent idea appears first to have occurred to
him about the year 1880. 1t was long after
this date, that Jenner first attempted by ac-
tual experiment to prove the truth of his
speouarions, At length, however, the ia
vorable opportunity occurred, and on the
18th of May, 1861 Commonly regarded as
the birthday of vaccination,) the first indi-
vidual was vaccinated by Jenner. The eX-
pertinent proved completely successful. In
1898, he published his original essay upon
the subject, giving the result ofvarous cxper-
iments, The public attention was fixed. A
strong and irresistible impression in favor of
kine-pox became general and vaccination at
once popular; and medical men, with few
exceptions, )becmse every where its strenu-
Gus advocates and supporters. The advan-
ces made by vaccination were rapid almost
beyond belief In 1901, DR.. Jenner states
that 600 persons had been vaccnated, the
greater number of whom had been tested
with smallpox, and subsequently exposed to
infection without effect. In 1899 the prac-
tce ofvaccinaton commenced in America.
In 1900 it was introduced into France and
spread rapidly over the whole European con-
tinent. In 1902 it commenced in Hindostan
and was thence propagated over every part
ofthe continent of Asia. The parliament of
England voted to DR.. Jenner 100000 as
reward for his discovery and his general de-
votion to the public welfare. DIR. J. died in
1898, at Berkeley the scene ofhis early labors
full ofyears and hopors.
That vaccination preserves the human spe-
cies from the smallpox is almost universally
admtted-but it is almost as we'll determin-
ed that its preventive power III some cases is
not dbSoiHe-that re-Uaccinntion sometimes Is
necessary 10 complete security.
Dr. Gregory, physician to the London
Small Pox Hospital, thinks that time has
demonstrated that:
!. The power ofresistance is complete for
the first ten years ofliie.
2. The power ofresistance ceases in GER |
tain constitutions before it ceases ir others.
g. The power of resistance is diminished
by any great change taking place in the hui
man frame, whether brought about by puber-
ty, or change of climate, or by long fever,
or; lastly, by gradual and inSsnStblc changes
taking place in the system.
The medical profession generally are a.
greed in the above views. DR.. Retzius, of |
Stockholm, advises that vaccination should be
repeated in about ID or IA years after its first
performance. This advice is in accordance
with the observations ofthe most experienced /
practitioners.
Says DR.. Smith, of Batimore-"I recon-
mend re-Uaccinaiion in all cases where there
is any doubt of previous efficacy. The scar is
not to be depended upon. 1t can only inform
us that vaccination had been ATTEMPTED Nom
medical people are not good judges as to the
perfection of vaccination. / have never seen
n person that kne,o had been perfectly uqcci-
mated take either vaccination or varioIoid, or
Small pox." People ought to know that
there are two kinds ofkine pox-the genuine
s. the spurious. The latter affords 40 protection
shateUer. The appearances are so similar in
each, that none but an experienced eye is capa-
Die ofjudging between them. Having the
genuine kline por affords as perfect protec-
ion from small pox as it is possible to obtain /
as perfect immunity from danger as if the
person had once passed through the small t
'or. This is proved by abundant testimony. I
person mTy have the small pox after r