Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-18
COMMUNICATED.
yacc,nation.--Dr !. b. JOHNSON, N. D.

our vicinity, deem Tue suoi'''"S 70
facts upon the subject to the consideration OF
the General reader, not ill-timed. Although
the theme is purely one of medicine, and only
physcians are expected to feel directly inter
cs.el in understanding Vaccination, the non
medical reader will have no occasion to re-
pret having informed himself upon the most
palpable points of the subject.
The discovery of Vaccination by DIR. Ed
ward Jcuner, of Berkeley, was first publish
ed in the year 1913, and was introduced into
the United States the following year. Dur
ins his residence among the diaries OF GlOu
ee.tershire, he learned by traditIonary ac-
counts of the immunity afforded against
SMALLPOX by the accidental introduction IL
TO the systems Of the dalry-malds, Of the
matter Of a disease sometimes prevalent
among the cows of that country. Hence,
he inferred, that if the casual introduction
Of matter Of Cow-pox afforded protection, 40
artificial insertion Of the rrus must ensure
equal safety Repeated experiments proved
the validity Of his inference, and Nacclna-
ton is now indisputably recognised as the
greatest blessing that the noble science OF
medicine has given TO mankind, as 1t so
greatly mitiratei the terror which IS produ-
ced by one Of the most fearful maadleS 10
whiCl we are heirs.
Il was known that disease denomluated
III, yyeaye in horses was not uGfrequently
communicated to the COW by those who at
tended the disease In the one, and lmme-
diatelv afterwards MIXED the ether. In the
beripning of his Investigations, DR.. Jenner
thought this disease, (tbe greaSel to be the
origin of Smallpox; but be afterwards cor
rccted this idea, and it is now ascertaIned
that the horse Is subject TO an eruption OF the
nature Of Smallpox as well as the COW, and
that it is equally protective when introduced
into the human System. The error consisted
in confounding this disease Of the horse with
the grease, and 10 surprising that IN order 10
ensure its efficacy. 1t must be transmitted
, through the cow. 1t is known that the
horse at various periods, and in different
countries, has been affected with both the
mild and malignant Smallpox.
The matter obtained by communicating
human Smallpox to the COW, causes the most
perfect form of Vaccination in the human
subject. Therefore, it was maintained by
DR.. Jenner, that Cow-pox and Smallpox are
the same, and that vaccine sickness IS not
the preventive of Smallpox, but absolute
ly the Smallpox itself, and that the virulent
and contagious SMALLPOX is but malignant
variety Of the vaccine sickness.
When the vaccine matter - taken before
the tenth day. it is, perhaps, the most ethca-
ci0us, but TIE maturei scab retains all Its
virtues for many weeks after 1t is detached
from the body. 1t Is best to take the matter
from the scab on tue seventh, eighth, or
ninth day, and insert it on the point Of a
lancet. by making five or six punctures in
the skin oout the middle Of the arm, taking
care not TO draw blood. These punctureS
should be confined to space OF about one.
sixth vi an inch in diameter. Ii the scab is
used it should be rubbed with little water
to the consistency Of thin paste, and alter It's
Insertion the place must be allowed 10 dry
before putting the coverings OF the arm
f down. BY these simple precautions, Naccl-
nation can be performed, III almost every
, case, with success, and as it goes on to a
, happy termination, it will present the follow
Ing appearances Ga the third day after the
, insertion, u small red spot is seen, and as the
Inflammation proceeds q minute round, fiat
tened, and slightly elevated lump or tumor
Is formed. At the sixth day. the pimple as
sumes the character OF q yescle, or little
vessel. and the matter being secreted in It's
centre goes on 10 augment IN quantity until
the teuth day. mt which time perfect vesl-
Gle is produced, presenting round or oval
face a distinct, smooth, distended margin,
with well-detned depression IN It's centre,
containing fluid or matter OF regular
pearl color. Subsequent to the eighth day,
the veSiclc is surrounded by red circle,
from less than an inch to two inches 10
diameter, and ia accompanied by some de-
gree Of swelling and hardness OF the deeper
seated parts about the vescle. At this stage
Of the progress Of Vaccination, some fever
aud other symptoms affecting the general
system, make their appearance. Sometimes
they are very slight, but occasionally assume
more activity, and resemble those symptoms
which accompany the remlttent fever OF 10
tants. Added to these, an eruption of pa
pu!ar character, in some instances appears
partially or generally on the body, and con-
tinuos for two or three days. From the
tenth to the twelfth day, the red circle begins
to fade, the yesicle becomes discOored, at
tains greater tirmuess, and in short time is
converted into q sCab Of the color Ut dark
mahogany. Ii now becomes olackish, dries
without losing its smooth surface, aud falls
off about the furtceuth or sixteenth day,
leaving a round and slightly depressed scar
which presents numerous small pits or min
ute depresslOns.
The constitutional disturbance arising dur
ing the various stages OF a successful Nacel-
nation are as a general rule 50 slight as to
require DO attention. The drowsiness which
comes on about the second day, the fever OF
the eighth day, and the soreness and the
swelling of the glands under the arm pass
off rapidly, and need excite no solicitude
concerning the weli-being of the patient.
have described the course Of a model
case Of Vaccination. Slight deyIatons may
occur without interfering with the result; but
there are certain deceptive appearances with
which it is necessary TO be familiar IN order
to decide competentiy whether the Vaccine
ton be a true or false one. The practlsed
eye Of al intelligent physician Is tue best
guide in such cases.
The causes which render Vaccination
false are these The matter may have lost
its power by having teen kept to long, or
the subject may be laboring under some dis
ease Of the skin. have known some chill
dren's Systems u be unsusceptible to the in