Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-03-16
The people may believe much of the following
as they please. It will come under notice hereafter
Small POx and Vaccination.


Small POx and Vaccination.
Rules and hints by phich 10 determine the protective
influence Of Vaccination.
L. Vaccine matter should always be selected, and
none taken except from perfectly healthy persons.
2. The longer the pustule continues after vaccina-
ton, the more perfect the protection will be. and the
better will be the matter to vaccinate others with.
3. Take no matter from any person to vaccinate
others that has not remained the at least If
teen days from the time of vaccination. Matter
should not be taken from The arm of person when
the pustule had been broken by scratching, any
other way nor if local inflammation had been caused
by taking cold or in any other way.
4. The arm should be examined the fourth day
after vaccination il there be any 10 doubt its
having taken effect. the operation should be again
performed In the other arm. Another examination
should be made the eighth ninth day if there
be no fever or other constitutional symptoms, such
soreness of the axilary glands pains in the head,
back and limbs, the operation should again be per-
formed. On the sixteenth day another examination
should be had Then if the pustue is found dry, and
the scab perfect it may be taken off, if not, it should
be suffered 10 remain until easily re moved.
! 8. If the pustule dries up; forming scab before
the fifteenth day, protection will be imperfect, and
vaccination will be necessary. In many cases the
vaccine disease is mere local affection, and of
course afford protection against small pox. This
local character readily in the absence of fever
on the eighth or ninth dny-absence of soreness in
the axilary glands absence of pain in the head back
and limbs, and in the short duration of the pustule.
6. Revaccination should be resorted TO in all cases
where there is any doubt of previous efficiency. The
appearance of the scar should not be relied on pos
tive evidence of full protection nor the memory, as
to the soreness OF the arm, any other testimony
than that of frequent revaccination with genuine mat
ter carefully selected In accordance with the above
rules.
81 have never seen a person that knew had been
perfectly vaccinated, take either small pox, varolod
or revaccinaton a second time
The scar is not TO be depended upon 1t can only
inform that vaccination has been attempted. The
pusule may have been scratched off or opened ii
some other way. A common sore may have left the
scar in consequence of cold impurity of the gland
ular secretiOns.
al have in numerous instances produced the perfect
vaccine disease in persons that showed good scars
and who said they had been well observation-disclosures
their arms were very Sore"
The present prevalence of the small pox Is ne
doubt owing inattention of persons after the vac
cine operation has been performed 1t is often the
that physicians insert the matter in the arm anC
never the patient afterwards. The mere fact o
the operation satisfies the patient and his friends =
it may not have taken effect at all it may have taken
but some slight accident has destroyed its effects upoT
the constitution, and hence this great preventive Of
one of the most terrible scourges of the world is
brought into 6isrepute Most medical men of the age
concur in the opinion, that the preventive effects o
perfect vaccination never wear out. DR.. Gideon b
Smith says-My own experience is upwards of TWEEN
ty-seven years. From 1919 to 1922 inclusive, / vac
cinated upwards of thirty-three thousand persons.
have great numbers of them since, but have no
found one that contracted varoloid or small pox; bu
| have always been particular in the selection of mat
ter to vaccinate with. prefer that which has beer
on the arm full fifteen days more, and that from
full grown, robust, healthy persons, rejecting oil 9th
ers. Matter should be taken from doubtful
sources. am fully satisfied that if the above rules
were strictly observed by all, that most loathsom'
disease, the small pox, would be entirely eradicated
But if not observed the publication of five thOusant
copies Of pamphlet, at an expense Of three hundred
dollars, the stringent of the committed
of seven, will be able to prevent its return.
J. F. MERRILL, NJ. D.