The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-03-09
From tie " Y. Herald.
Faccination--lS it a Preventive
Of SmaH POX!

"Cle uIaue Ny surgeon III dueHeI u
queries put to him by gentleman on the
occasion of submitting to re-vaccination
We advise every one to take the notice ol
them that their excellent common sense
demands, as they are made by man
who is well known enemy of medical
cant and deception, viz the editor OF
the ScaLpeE.'-
To THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD.-In
answer to repeated requests of public
exposition of my opinions with regard to
the preventive power of vaccination, and
how l account for the present extensive
prevalence Of smallpox, | reply
1st. That vaccination is unqucstionably
very powerful preventive is shown un-
answerably from the fact that history
proves that the mortality, having former
iy been SO frightful as to sweep off more
than half Of all the persons exposed, has
been SO far reduced by vaccination, when
even imperfectly or very carelessly per-
formed, as not TO exceed five per cent,
and that this small proportion is still
further reduced, even in those who are
seemingly not susceptible to full and sat
isfactory vaccination.
I'd. Are there any persons to whom
the vaccine vesicle cannot be communica-
ted ?-and if so, are those persons liable
to smallpox? 1t has been supposed that
those persons who are inoculated, .. e.
with the virus or lymph of the smallpox,
taken in the natural way, "a process since
the discovery of cow-pox, forbidden by
law)-as well as those who have once
had the disease, were not liable to a Sec
ond attack. This is certainly incorrect.
l have, within fortnight past, succeeded
in producing two very perfect vaccine
vesicles in two persons much pitted from
natural and severe attack several years
since. They were both servants in the
families of two of my patients; and, what
is singular, they were the only two full
and complete vesicles, having all the
proper characteristics as in the vaccina-
ton Of the infant, amongst seventeen per.
sons, the united number of the two fami.
lies. Several Of these vesicles, however
presented such marked characteristics a;
to assure me the parties were liable tc
greater or lesser degrees of smallpox, OIL
to yarioloid, as we call it; and several
were entirely unsusceptible, the vesicle
not showing itself; in these it was sup
posed the former or infantine vaccination
had protected them. This, however, can
only be fully proved by again vaccinat-
ing them, as it is impossible to say but
some hidden cause, not ascertainable in
any other way, might have prevented the
virus from showing the distinctive char.
acterictics
Sd. How do I account for its unusua
prevalence this year?
[ answer, there is undoubtedly an at
mospheric pre-disposition existing at thi
time My reason is simply this all tn
inhabitants of our city, take them on
with another, are as well protected thi
year as the last. Smallpox existed las
year and does more or less every year, ,tt
an extent sufficient to spread all over th
city. The fact is it viii in year spreac
as extensively from six cases as from six
ty; and will manage to catch an immens
majority of those who are not protected
Now this season smallpox is vastly NOR
prevalent than it has been within fort
years; indeed it is so much more so, tina
we have no rational cause left than at
f mospheric disposition for its great in
crease.
! The only safe method in this disease
to vaccinate the same person several times
or as long as the sore is produced, wit
the distinctive character of the vaccin
vesicle or cow-pox.
The proof of the genuinonness Of th
vesicle is this, viz: on the eighth da
from the insertion of the matter, (whic
:. process should never draw full droop {
blood, for more would wash it away til
sore should present the following appear
ance: An oval centre of brownish co
) or, light circle of pearly vesicles, cor
!, tanning the lymph, or specific matter, an
a rose colored blush, extending from th
outer circle Of this pearly border all aroun
it, and fading imperceptibly into the SUI
, rounding skin Unless it presents nor
or less Of this appearance it is only
common sore, and in nowise protective
Just in proportion as it approaches ii
above appearance it is perfect. | consic
: er two or three trials, with good reliab
!, lymph on the quill, taken from the ski
to the ninth day, and inserted withor
drawing full drop of blood, sufficien
r If it do not take l consider that persc
; sufficiently protected by the former va
; cination. l would certainly, howev'
vaccinate every few. years. In the ele'
enth number OF the Scalpel there is POI
'1ular article on this subject, to which v
: refer al readers desirous of investigatlr
the few known facts in the history OF Il
disease. Respectfully, your obediont Sc
/ want,
o EDWARD II. DIXON,
4 Editor Of tie ScaIpel, ~ Fifth Avenu
In connection with this communicate
we give an article from the London Ne
~