The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-04-04
Small Pox and Vaccination.

ordinance in favor of compulsory vaccination which
met with the decided disapproval Of many Of cur
citizens, on the score that it was arbitrary &C. We
INTENDED to notice this at the time but it slipped our
membry and would probably not have REQUIRED to US
again had We not received very able report of the
board of health Of the city Of Louisville on this sub
jcct Dir. D. Il. Buitt the health officer gives many
statistical facts proving the efficacy of vaccination
and argues that community has the right to protect
Itself by compulsory enactments against the possible
care@ssness or neglect Of any Of its members As
this disease is still prevailing here in defiance of the
stringent measures adopted by the trustees the follow
ing extract from DR. BuIits report in regard to vac
cinatpn, may not be without interest
An infant ought not to be vaccinated under the
age OF six weeks, unless the necessity for it arises in
consequence Of exposure to contagion. Nor ought
the vaccination to be postponed beyond the fourth
month in the case Of healthy children A child
SHOULD not be vaccnated while suffering from any con
siderable indsposon. AT the time Of vaccination
il shod be in good health free from any skin disease
or tho disorders Of teethng other disease peculiar
to nincy The protective power Of yaccina ton can
rot bf depended when its regular course is inter
fired kith by other diseases Hence, too the impor
lance tof using vaccine virus taken from perfectly
healthy children. There is not much ground for the
comm n fear that vaccine virus taken from child in
bad h4aIth, will noculate the ordinary disease from
Ehiehthe child may be suffering but it is always to
be feared that matter from sickly child will be Of
bad quality and deficient in protective power Hence
these Two rules should be observed: lst Vaccinate
between the sixth and sixteenth weeks after birth,
sgectfS time within this age, if possible, when the
child il II perfect health ID. Never use virus taken
aDm d sckly or delicate child"
He rbinks revaccination should always be practiced
especially between the ages of twenty and thirty years
when tie liability to small pox is greatest This is
not onfaccount Of any dminution or failure of the
protective power Of the former vaccination, but be-
cause il is frequently imperfect either on account of
udclous selection Of virus inefficient or careless
admini4raton, or interference with the proper pro
gess Of the vaccine disease other diseased condi
tilns OF the system. We further quote:
In determining the question Of necessity Of re-
vaccination in individual cases. there is nothing to
guide Us but the character of the oicatrx, which is
always ndelibe after successful vaccination and pre-
seats characteristic pcculiarties, by which its genu-
mqness may be determined The eicatrices have been
arranged into three classes: First, TYPICAL second
fais or iaodfed; third, bad.
Perfect vaccination marks are recognised by their
circular form, and pale or white appearance. They
are somewhat depressed and dotted, or indented with
minute aeprcssions or pits. The diameter Of these
scars, when they result from single insertion of
virus, tsiabout onetenth of an inch. The scars NAV
bo larger when two or more insertions of matter have
been made so near to each other as TO admit Of the
yiscles cunning into each other
FAIR or modified ccatrices possess the general
characteristics of the perfect but less clearly ex-
pressed The size is below Che average of the per
feet and he'ounes less regular and the depressons
or pits less distinct Bad cicatrices are such as can
not be'reeognsed as the product of vaccination by
any circumstance beyond that of being near the usual
seat Of vaccination, and such also as are less tLan
quarter Of an inch in diameter and all large, smooth,
ll-dehned shiny marks, must be regarded as bad,
although known tobe the result Of vaccination.
" The conclusions which seem to be warranted bv
the result OF observations made during twenty five
years in nearly six thousand cases of small pox, con-
racted after vaccination and treated in the small pox
hospitals Of England, are as follows:
!. Those having more than two perfect marks may
be regarded as completely protected.
I" 2 Those having two perfect marks may be re-
gar9ed az sufficiently protected, and adisrense
with revafcination.
&" 8. Those having but one perfect mark or two
modified marks are but moderately protected, and
should try revaccnation.
" Z. Those having bad marks, or one modified mark,
are badly protected and should try reYaccnation
often as they are exposed to epidemics of small pox,
until they succeed in getting perfect marks
FFom these conclusions it would seem to be ncces-
sarE IN pfacticng primary vaccination tonsert the
virus at several different points, and as this attended
with no additional Inconvenience, there can be no
good reason for failing to have it done. These differ
ent points of insertion should be SO far apart as to
avoid all chance Of their running into each other
Each yisice should have full room to develop itself
separately and care should be taken to prevent rup
.ure by scratching or other mechanical injury"