New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-25

tested by one re-vaccinatiOn, smallpox wholly
ceases in such bodies of men in the public
service. These are facts attested by the Gov
eminent records, and admit of no denial. The
records show that smallpox occurs only IN the
persons who have not been subjected to the
requisite test of re-vaccination.
True and thorough vaccination. such as ~
Jenner insisted upon, is vaccination WIN
pure, fresh virus, not far removed from us
original source, the COW, and in each person
vaccinated carefully tested by re-vacclnation
at proper time Jenner taught, and expe-
rience proves, that the first, or one single
operation of vaccination, does not necessarily
and in every person, remove all susceptibility
TO the vaccine virus itself, nor to smallpox.
1t is also true, as taught by Dr. Jenner, and
as proved by experience in all countries, ana
in every year since this discovery, that unless
the vaccine virus, or kine-pOck, is carefully
cultivated, the persons from whom it is to be
taken properly selected, the exact period and
condition of the vaccine vesicle rightly chosen
by the physician whom he takes the virus and
lastly unless the virus thus taken be used
perfectly fresh, and with its attributes undi-
mnshed from any cause, the result VIII DC an
imperfect vaccination. And the infant or per-
son vaccnated with any other than fresh and
perfect virus may be partially and for time
but not completely and for lifetime, pro-
tected against smallpox, no matter how often
re-vaccinated by such defective virus.
The prevalence of smallpox in New-York
has resulted from perfectly natural causes, ana
was predicted as far back as 1868 from facts
well ascertained and boldly asserted, namely,
that not less than 100000 of the city population
were unprotected against the kind and guam
tity of smallpox cOntagiOn that was then
liable to be spread in the streets and tene-
ments of the city. 1t was asserted by the
present Sanitary Superintendent that the small
pox contagion then prevalent in other cities OF
our country and in the ports whence our emil
grants came, would soon make that cOntagion
current here. With smallpox present In
numerous over-crowded tenement-houses in
the city; with the cOntagion arriving from
every point of the compass and by uncOntr0ll-
able means; and with 100000 of the population
unprotected from the disease, the present de-
gree of its prevalence was simply inevitable.
1t is clearly the duty of the sanitary author
tiles and the people alike to speedily secure to
every unprotected person IN the city the best
possible vaccination. Physicians owe it to their
profession and the people to give hearty sup
port and aid to whatever may be publicly
necessary to this end 1t is just and proper
for the people to know that the medical officers
of the Board of Health adhere to the most
exact methods and scrupulous care for insuring
perfect results in their public vaccinations
and that all the vaccine virus used by them
was, but a few months ago, derived from a
heifer which was found suffering the natural
kine-pock in q herd in Cayuga County, New
York Thus far, it is said, not death, not an
accident not an unhealthy sore, nor any erup-
ton, save the simple vaccine vescle, has re-
suited in the entire experience of these officers
during the Autumn and Winter.