Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-06-10


AT the recent meeting in Washington,
of the American Medical Association, DIR
l.. A. Smith, Of Newark, N. j.. read an
interesting report on epidemics. from
which the following remarks are extracted
Smallpox has been more than usually
prevalent in many portions of the State OF
New Jersey, especially in Essex county
but the faith of the profession in the eff
acy Of vaccination as preventive is in nc
sense weakened, but most of them l. eve
that perfect vaccination is a perfect pro-
lection" In my own experience this per-
lection is not always attained by one trial,
but sometimes requires two or more and
my practice is to revaccinate in all cases SO
long as a vaccinoid effect can be produced.
That vaccination never wears out Is my
belief, rs in my own case it has stood the
test of forty eight years. during which time
have repeatedly revaccinated myself with
out any other effect than slight inAam-
matory action, and have very often been
exposed to the most virulent forms of small
pox with IMMUNITY
The Board Of Education I'm Newark
have adopted a resolution that no child
shall he admitted into our public schools
who has not been successfully vaccinate,l,
and arrangements are made by the city for
vaccinating the poor gratuitously. Were
the same plan adopted throughout the
state, small -pox would soon cease to exist
IN all our borders.
From an experience Of thirty seven
years, during which time / have been a
very careful observer, the following opin-
ions were advanced with great confidence
They were originally published in the New
Jersey Uefi al Reporter, vol. 10, and are
here reproduced
LIST. That perfect vaccination affords a
perfect protection from small pox during
life, and that if this is done, in all instan-
ces. soon after birth. smallpox may,
as DR. Jenner supposed it would, be Grad
icated.
~. That in some subjects one vaccina-
ton IS sufficient to destroy the susceptible
lty to smallpox. while in others two and
sometimes more are required, and there
fore 1t Is important to revaccinate as long
~ aH pfcSslOu can De madc.
81. That vaccination will protect the
life, and greatly mitigate the distress of
patient who has already taken the small
pox, If done in time 10 allow the fist dis
ease to perva,le the system.
18th. That the common idea that the So
rer the arm from vaccination the better the
protection, is a mistake, and that very
small pustulc, which goes through the reg
ular stages AMI produces constitutional
effect about the ninth day, is more gener-
ally perfect than ono that produces
or al inAammst on. pain. aadswelling. and
affects the glands. Indeed, l am always
suspicious of case where this has occur
red, and take an early opportunity to re-
vaccinate. AMI have often had my suspi :
cions verified by good pustule.
9th. That the virus should always be Ia
ken before the areola forms, If taken from
the pustule, and With great caution, lest it
interfere with its progress. My own prac-
tice IL to save the scab, and insert il in a
pulverised form by means Of Fanchcr's
varcinator, which is very simple anil
convenient instrument. and saves much
zinc. and never produces unnecessary in
ilamation.
9th. That the virus should never be ia
ken from any but healthy patient and
then there is little or no danger of propa-
eating any other disease. as many think
NAV be aud is often done.
9TH. That a small scar with pits or in
dcntatIobs around its border is much bet
ter evidence of the pcr.ectncss of vaccina-
ton than large. smooth and glossy one,
though many think that the better the
vaccination.
9Th. In rcvaccinating patient who has
a good scar. il the virus produces rc,lness
and itching for few days and then dries
up. infer that the first vaccination was
perfect. 1T produces no other effect than
is common to slight puncture of the skin.
1 infer that the virus is not good, and i'm
make another attempt with
new supply.