The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-27

/ II
two 1r IN ee s"ags Of this series Is most
satisfactorily eXniU,ting the results OF vac
INA; iou, ina>mucn rs they show most de-
dolly tie effects Of the system Of cOnlpot-
SGtg tGcolcu&.0p, enforced by acts of Paria-
lGc,t ;as>cd III 1893, 1855, and 1856. But il
we Jalie Tho itve years together, we find that
the average number of deaths annually was
3,2Ul and as the mean population OF Eng
land during this period was just about
twenty millions, (having slightly exceeded
nat number in 1861, according to the official
census,) it results that there was only one
death by smallpox IN 6 G,24S Of the population.
Suppose the ratio prevailing in the closing
years of the last century had continued un-
diminished to the present time. how many
of the inhabitants Of England would have
died of smallpox ION the average) III eac b
of the five years? One hundred thousand
The annual saving of lives, therefore, re-
sulting from the general practice Of yaccina-
ton was something like 1900. Who can
estimate the amount Of terror, of suffering,
and of hideous personal Disagreement,
escaped by those who, but for vaccination,
would have been stricken by one of the
most dangerous and loathesome of human
maladies? If we include in our estimate all
the years which have elapsed since vaccina-
ton came to be generally practiced, the
number of lives saved by it, in England and
elsewhere, will amount to many millions.
In the face Of such grand and beneticent
results, what are we to think of the efforts
Of those who decry vaccination as measure
Of doubtful benefit: Misled by occasional
r;ntoward occurrences, such as the ques-
tiUI.,hle one which has prompted these re-
marks, some of these skeptics do not hesl-
tate 10 declare that vaccination has scattered
abroad 50 much Of other disease as to cOun-
tcrba!ance the diminished mortality from
smallpox ISit true, then, that the general
ratio Of mortality is no less, and the mean
duration Of life no greater, in the present
century than in the times when smallpox
ragged unopposed! Let us appeal to Statis-
ties again:
The average rate OF mortality in England
and Wales during the first forty years fthe
eighteenth century was $40 in 10000 Of the
population, or / in 2S. During tic forty
years 1921 to 1860 it was 20T in The same
population, or in rs.
In Dublin, tie. rate was ] in 22 III the be-
ginning, of the eighteenth century, and III
3S in the middle of the nineteenth.
In Sweden, from 11j5 to 1176 tne rate was
i'll 3424 and from 1856 TO 1860 1T was L
in ~ 9-l0.
In Berlin, eighty eight years ago, the NOR
tality was i'll %. Ii is now in ., y
In Paris, from 172S to 1871 there were los
deaths to every 100 births, while from 1858
to 1860 there were but IS deaths 10 every
100 births.
In France. prior 10 the Revolution, the
mean duration of life was 2S% years, In
1886 il was 33 wears '&-
In Geneva the expectation Of life at BIRTH
in the eighteenth century was 81 wears.
From 1901 TO 1888 il was 80 yeacs from 1914
to 1852, 80 years (omittiug ftactionS).
In Boston, Mass. from, 1928 50 1872 the
deaths were | III q 60 OF the living. From
1916 to 1865 they were IN 42.0S.
VIII not these figures suffice: Why null
tiply proofs Of the diminished mortality and
greater longevity of civilized nations at the
present day rs compared with the last CEN
tury: know full well that this improve
ment is not to be. attributed solely TO raccl-
naticn. A better. acquaintance WIN tle
vance of chem: the more, general and more
intelligent enforcement of hygieuic meaSureS;
in cities 1,d towns the improved colmofs
and wcll-beiag Dt the population oi most
civilized countries; tho no;e conservative
aud successful trea;meut"c dlsease; al
these, a4d ether inilucuces, haVe their part
in the general result But that man IS either
wilfuliy blind or hopelessly prsSudiced who
refuses { o award - yGcrina,!un very large
share in lie saving and extension OF human
life. 7s4ta1 :, ,s > - :>as[:5' !,
We have lately seen the mmiversary OF
Humboldt celebrated il both hemispheres
with the hougrs cue 10 4 life nohly spent III
devotion 80 ecicuc6. But when the year
1898 sia!l cone, what Citing honors shall be
paid I'D the lacIapeg OF the man who, one
hanJfsy, years befor8, taught mankind how
to 800 n us ctirf terrors an ever-dreaded
scou.%e CugAt not the millions preserved