The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-01-31
MiarRllanRuug.
Fran the " Y Herald.
is it u Preventive OF
Small POx.

Small Fox.
We publish the following facts as particu.
larly pertinent to the present universal preva.
lence of small pox. The remarks were made
by surgeon i'll answer to queries put to him
by gentleman on the occasion Of submitting
to revaccnation. We advise every one to
take the notice of them that their excellent
common sense demands, as they are made by
a man who is we'll known enemy of medi-
cal cant and deception, viz:-the editor OF the
Scalpel:-
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
In answer to the repeated requests OF pub
lie exposition my opinions with regard to
the preventive pow er of vaccination, and how
account for the present extensive prevalence
of small pox, | reply
lst That vaccination is unquestionably a
very powerful preventive is shown unanswela.
bly, from the fact that history proves that the
mortality, having formerly been So frightful as
\ to sweep off more than half of all persons ex-
posed, has been so far reduced by vaccination
when even imperfectly or Very carelessIy per
formed. as not to exceed FIVE per cent, and
that this small proportion is still further re-
duced, even in those who are seemingly not
susceptible to full and satisfactory vaccina
ton.
I'd. Are there any persons to whom the vac
cine vesicle cannot be communicated !-and if
so, are those persons liable to tLe small pox!
1t has been supposed that those persons who
are inoculated, i. e. with the virus or lymph of
the small pox, taken in the natural way, IA pro.
cess, since the discovery Of cow pox forbidden
bv law)-as we'll as those who have once had
the disease, were not liable to u second attack
This is certainly incorrect. | have, within a
fortnight past, succeeded in producing two
very perfect vaccine vesicles in two persons
much ptted 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 tho A"iy .~"- fn!!
and complete vesicles, having all the proper
characteristics as in the vaccination OF the M
fant, amongst seventeen persons, the united
number of the two families. Several of these
vescles, however presented such marked cha.
racteristics as to assure me the parties were
liable to greater or lesser degrees OF small p"x
or to varioloid, as we call it; and several were
entirely unsusceptible, the vesiclc not showing
itself; in these it was supposed the tormer or
infantine vaccination had protected them. lhl'
however, can only be fully proved by again
vacclnating them, as it is impossible to say but
some hidden cause, not ascertanable IN any
other way, might have prevented the virus
from showing the distinctive characteristics.
81. How do account for its unusual preVa-
lence this year!
answer there is undoubtedly an atmos-
pleric predsposition existing at this time My
reasoning is simply this ALI the inhabitants
of our city, take them one with another, are as
well protected this year as the last. Small
pox existed last year and does more or less
every wear, to an extent sufficient to spread all
over the city. The fact is it will in year
spread as extensively from six cases as from
sixtv and will manage to catch an immense
ma ority of those who are not protected. Now
this season, small pox is vastly more prevalent
than it has been within forty years; indeed, it
is so much more so, that we have no rational
cause left than atmosperic predisposition for
its increase. :.
The only safe method in this disease is to
vaccinate the same person several times, or as
long as the sore is produced, with the dlslnc'
tive character Of the vaccine vesicle or COW
pcx.
The proof Of the genuineness of the vesicle
is this, viz on the eighth day from the lnser
ton Of the matter, which process should ne
yer draw full drop Of blood, for more would
wash it away,) the sore should present the fol
lowing appearance: An oval centre OF
brownish color, light circle Of pearly vescles
containing the lymph, or specific matter, ano
rose colored blush, extending from the oute
circle of this pearly border all around it, anc
fading imperceptibly into the surrounding skin
Unless it presents more or less of this appear
ance it is only common sore, aud in nowise
protective. Just in proportion as it approach
es the above appearance it is perfect. con
slider two or three trials, with good reliable
lvmph on the quill, taken from the sixth to th'
ninth day. and inserted without drawing full
drop of blood sufficient. lift does not take
consider that person sufficiently protected BY
the former vaccination. | would certainly
however, revaccnate every few years. In TIT
eleventh number Of the Scalpel there is popu
lar article on this subject, to which we refer al
readers desirous ofinvestigating the few know
facts in the history of the disease. Respectful
ly, your obedient servant,
:" EDWARD II. DIXON,
Editor of the ScaLpel, AZ Fifth avenue.
In connection with this communication w
pive an article from the London Medical Time
and Gozets, headed:
COMPULSORY VACCINATION.
The proportion of deaths from small pox II
London is three times, and in Glasgow ST.
times, what it IS in Brussels, Berlin, or Copen
hagen. Of each one thousand persons wh'
die in England and Wales, twenty-five die