The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-19
Written for the 0ttumwa Courier.
VACCINATION.

HIsToRY.-Mr. Edward Jenner, an English
man, was the immortal discoverer of Vaccina-
ton. His name certainly deserves a place
among the great and illustrous benefactors of
the human race. Prior to this important dis
covery, incubation of small pox was practice
ed as a means of rendering the disease milder.
The attention of Mr.. Jenner was excited to
the subject of cow pox, by observing that
among those whom in the country he was call
ed upon to inoculate, many resisted the effort
TO give them the small pox. These patients
he found had under gone disorder contracted
by milking cows affected by peculiar erup-
ton on their teats; and vague opinion pre-
vailed of its being preventative of small
pox.
with the matter obtained from the cow, and
found that those whom he had infected with
it, were unacceptable 10 small pox. Two
years afterw ards he published the result of his
Investigations. Public attention was at once
awakened to the subject. The Introduction OF
vaccination was a, first violently opposed in
various quarters, and ma ny direful evils were
feared from 1T; yet the knowledge and prac-
tice of it spread rapidly throughout Europe
and America; and there is now no civilized
adopted, and very generally hailed as means
of certain security against dreaded and loath-
s,me disease.
Period for Vaccination.-The proper age
for vaccinating child is about the fourtl.
month, when the body is sufficiently developed
to receive and mature the disease, and before
the irritation from 'eething has occurred.
While we choose, generally, the fourth
mouth as the most convenient age, yet should
small pox prevail, or other urgent crcumstan-
ces exist, I'VE never hesitate TO vaccinate al
any period, even within few days after
birth.
Season of the yedr.-The season Of the year
is OF some consequence to the success of vac.
cination. The heat of summer is mos, un-
favorable, and it more often fails at this sea-
son than any other; the free secretion Fl ON
the skin removing the virus when Inserted
Extreme cold, also, acts unfavorabiy on the
tccess and full development of the vaccine
disease. AS general rule, therefore, it i:
better to wait until the rigors of winter have
been moderated by the influence of spring, OF
until the heat of summer has given way to the
GOODNESS Of autumn. -s
Phenomena The Ggst appearance of sue
cessful vaccination, shows itself about the
third day after the insertion of the matter, in
the form of red and slightly elevated pimple
which on the fourth day Is more tumefied
surrounded by very faint and narrow infam-
ed base, and is attended with itching. On the
fifth day the piihple has assumed the appear
ance of vesicle About this time d depIes-
sion appears in the center, of fawn color,
strongly marked on the seventh day and
distenaed with lymph. On the ninth day the
vescle arrives at its perfect state. AT this
period, constitutional disturbance generally
takes place to greater or less degree. SUISSE
quently, the yesicle gradually changes to a
dark colored scab, which finally detaches itself
and falls of. There remains an indelible,
slightly pitted scar.
fermentation The question as to the pro-
priety of revaccination, is a very impol tant
one. 1t is the only known method of distin-
gushing those who remain protected from
those who do not: If successful, it establish
es strong presumption that the individual
was moIe or less liable to contract small
pox.
1t is well known that person who has had
the small pox, is liable, after the lapse of years,
to a second attack, in a modified form, COM
monty called varioloid; as is also the case af-
ter vaccination.
1t is a fact, that most physicians who are
liable to frequent exposures to small pox con-
tagion, are in the habit of frequently repeat
ing vaccination upon themselves; even those
who have had the small pex. Statistics go to
prove that the protective power Of vaccina-
tion begins to diminish after the first fourteen
years; although, it is probably never entirely
extinguished. Ordinarily, therefore, revacci-
nation should be practiced after the first four
teen years, but sooner during the prevalence of
small pox.
The most accurate series of observations,
in relation OF the protective power of vaccina-
ton, have been recorded during the past few
years, by physicians in different pats of the
world, possessing opportunities peculiarly ia
vorable for their prosecution; all of which
observations fully bear out Jenner's first esti-
mate of its value-that when the system has
been placed fully under the influence of the
vaccine virus, it is completely protected in the
greater number of cases, against subsequent
attact Of small pox.
The foregoing mas been written with the
hope of calling attention to an important and
too much neglected subject; of which it is be-
lieved too little, generally, is known. Parents
should see to it, that their children are prop
erly vaccinated under the most favorable cir
camstances, and then that the disease natures
and is undisturbed in its course
The history and progress of all such impor-
tant discoveries are truly interesting and valu-
able. L. ID. MORSE, NJ. D.
O.tumwa, Feb. 10, 1857.
GREAT FIRE IN BURLINGTON.