Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-02
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE ?, 1883
SMALL PON.

The extract following appears to be OF snch
valne. both to professional and lay readers,
that il cannot be too widely dfiured. II Is
from the pen of DR.. Lyndon A. Suith, OF New
ark. New Jersey, and is part OF his report
ON the epidemics Of that State tor the three
years past:
"Small.pox has been more than Usually
prevalent in many portions OF the State, es-
pecially in Essex county. but the faith of the
profession in the efficacy Of vaccination as
preventive is in DO sense weakened. but most
OF them believe that a per feet vaccination is a
perfect protection. 10 my own experience
this protection is not always attained by one
trial, but sometimes requires two OF more'
and my practice is to re-vacclnate IN all cases
30 long ss q vaccinoid effect can be produced.
That vaccination never wears out IS my De-
lief, as in my own case 1t has STOOD the tes.
OF forty eight years, during which time
have repeatedly revsccinated myself without
env other effec. than q slight infammatory
action. and. bave very often been exposed to
the most virulent forms Of smallpox with im-
punity.
The Board of Education in Newark have
adopted a resolution that no child shall be
admitted into our public schools, who has
not been successfully vaccinated, aud ar
engagements are made by the city. for vac.
cinating the poor gratuitously. Were the
same plan adopted throughout the State
smallpox would SOON cease to exist in all our
borders.
From an experience Of thirty.seven years,
during which time have been very care
full observer the following opinions are ad-
yanced with great confidence. They were
originally published in the New Jersey Med
icsl Reporter, vol. 10, and are here repro
duced:
lst. That a perfect vaccination affords
q perfect protection from smallpox dering
life, and that if this is done, In ali instances,
s ION after birth, smallpox may, as DR.. Jen-
per supposed it would, be eradicated.
I'd. That in some subjects one vaccination
is sufficient to destroy che susceptibility to
smallpox, while 10 others taco and sometimes
more are required; and therefore it is import
ant to revaccinste as long as an impression
can be made.
Sd. That vaccination will protect the life
and greatly mitigate the distress OF pa
tent who has already taken the smallpox, If
done in time to allow the first disease to per-
wade the system.
4th. That the com mon idea that the sOrer
the arm from vaccination the better the pre-
lection, is a mistake and that a very small
pustule, which goes through the regular sta
ges an d produces constitutional effect about
the ninth day, is moro generally perfect
than one that produces great inf ANIMATION,
pain, and swelling, and Affects the glands.
Indeed, ] am always suspicious Of case
where this has occurred, and take an early
opportunity to revaccinate, aud have often
had my suspicious verified by very good
pustule.
5th. That the virus should always be ia
ken before the areola forms, if taken from
the pustule, and with great caution, lest 1t
interfere with it's progress. My own prac-
tice is to save the scab and insert it in pu!-
verified form by means Of Faucher's vac
oinator, which is very simple and conve-
nient instrument, and saves much time, and
never produces unnecessary Inflammation.
9th That the virus should never be taken
from any but healthy infant Of healthy pa
rents, and then there is little or no danger of
propagatipg any other disease, as many think
may be and often is done.
Eth. That eruptions often occur after the
most careful vaccination, and are owing to
some peculiar idiosynacracy, although the
friends of the patient attribute it to the vi.
rus. Hence the importance Of the last OBJ
servation, which may save the physician
f,om blame.
9th. That small scar with pits or linden
tations around its border is much better ev.
idenoe Of the perfeotness OF vaccination than
Q large, smooth, and glossy one, though many
think that the bigger the scar the better the
vaccination.
9th. In revsccinating patient who has
good scar, if the virus produce redness
and itching for few days and then dries
up, infer that the first vaccination was
perfect. lit produce no other effect than is
COMMON to a slight puncture of the skin, |
infer that the virus is not good, and immedi-
ately make another attempt with a new sup
ply.