The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-06-17
Small Pox and yaccinating.,

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The extract following, from a paper
read at the recent Medical convention,
in Washington, appears to be of such
value, both to professional and layread-
ers, that it cannot be too widely diffused.
1t is from the pen of DIR. Lyndon A.
Smith, of Newark, N. j., and is part of
his report on the epidemics of that
State for three years past: sei sdf
"Small pox has been more than usual
ly prevalent in many portions of the
State, especially in Essex county, but
the faith of the profession in the effica-
cy of vaccination as preventive is in
no sense weakened, but most of them
believe that a "perfect y vaccination is
a "perfect protection" In my own ex-
perience, this perfection is not always
attained by one trial, but sometimes re-
quires two or more; and nay practice
is to revaccinate in all cases so long as
"a vaccinoid effect can be produced.
"That vaccination never wears out,
is my belief, as in my own case it has
stood the test of forty-eight years, dur
ing which time l have repeatedly re-
vaccinated myself without any further
effect than Sigh infammatory action,
and have very often been exposed to
the most virulent forms of smallpox,
with impunity. ~
''The Board of education in Newark
have adopted resolution that no child
shall be admitted into our public
schools who has not been successfully
vaccinated, and arrangements are being
made by the city for vaccinating the
poor gratuitously. Were the same
plan adopted throughout the State,
smallpox would soon cease to exist in
all our borders. 1s -.
From an experience of thirty-seven
years, during which l have been a very
careful observer, the following opinions
are advanced with great confidence.
They were originally published in the
New Jersey Medical Reporter, VOL 10,
and are here reproduced:
1st. That a perfect vaccination af-
fords a perfect protection from small
pox during life, and thatif this is done,
in all instances, soon after birth, small
pox may, as DIR. Jenner supposed it
would, be eradicated. Is 5s.
I'd. That In some subjects one vac
cination is sufficient to destroy, the sus-
ceptibility to smallpox, while in others
two and sometimes more are required !:
and therefore it is important to re-vac-
cinate as long as an impression can be
made. 5...;s
life and HaseRa9R vii iRep pFfRtaess TBS
a patient who has already taken the
smallpox, if done in time to allow the
first disease to pervade the system.
4th. That the common idea that the
sorer the arm from vaccination the
better the protection is mistake, and
that very small pustule, which goes
through the regular stages and produces
a constitutional effect about the ninth
day, is more generally perfect than one
that produces great inflammation, pain
and swelling, and affects the glands.
Indeed, am always suspicious of a
case where this has occurred, and take
an early opportunity to revaccinate,
and have often had my suspicious ver-
flied by good pustule.
5th. That the virus should be always
taken before the areola forms, if taken
from the pustule, and with great eau
ton, lest it interfere with its progress.
My own practice is to save the scab
and insert it in pulverized form by
means of Fancher's vaccinator, which
is a very simple and convenient instru-
ment, and saves much time, and never
produces unnecessary Inflammation.
6th That the virus should never be
taken from any but healthy infant of
healthy parents, and then there is little
or no danger of propagating any other
disease, as many think may be and
often is done.
7th. That eruptions often occur after
the most careful vaccination, and are
owing to some peculiar idiosyncracy,
although the friends of the patient at
tribute it to the virus. Hence the i'm
portance of the last observation, which
may save the physician from blame
sth. That small scar with pits or
indentions around its border is a much
better evidence of the perfectness of
vaccination, than large, smooth and
glossy one, though many think that the
bigger the scar the better the vaccina-
ton.
9th. In revaccination patient who
has good scar, if the virus produces
redness and itching for few days and
then dries up, infer that the first vac
cination was perfect. lfit produces no
other effect than is common to slight
puncture of the skin, l infer that the
virus is not good, and Immediately
make another attempt with new
supply.