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

THE SMALL POX-A LETTER FROM DIR. DIXON.
70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The discussion so grayely carried on by
the Board OF Health on the subject how the present
epidemic OF Small PoX introduced into the City -
is certainly very extraordinary one, II We have
any confidence whatever in tho experience OF all prac
tcal men, and all writer's upon tho essential nature OF
this disease If small pox be really the terrible and we
think we may say indsputaby contagious well M In
fictitious disease that all history aud experience prove
It, ask these gentlemen when is it not in the City,
To suppose that the Infection dies out In city OF
this extent and be said not TO exist in its essential
nature disease capable Of indefinite extension among
all those who havenot been vaccnated, insufcienty
so is contrary all experience Every practical phys
clan knows this be absurd; it SAUNDERS fora WHILE but
the virus always here and may reappear at any mo
ment
Is idle. within the past week. visited gentle
In Of most popular hotels mot as physician
was covered with small pOx eruption. OF course his
physcan knew IT, but he did not choose to report and
his friend and patient TO be elected from his old
people must take their risks everybody supposed to
have been properly vaccinnted IN Infancy 1hs gentle
of course had been imperfeety yacelnated and II
had been repeated for 80 years II It had been done
every seventh year, OF course his liability 10 small poh
would have been prevented. IL should he done In in
fancy and repeated at intervals OF three weeks t no
longer shows the characteristics OF the vesce NO duDt
thus will eectual for lite; but 1t is well TO test by
inserting every years till middle age, by
which time 1t may reasonably be concluded the person Is
safe. - -.
In the we the children OF the Deaf
and Dumb Asylum and House OF Refuge over 500 IN mum
her aud In % cases it took perfectly; had never
been yaccinated OF course all these were subject 10
small pox.
homes TO the hospital with the view OF "cheekins
the spread Of the disease "a apparent By tne le ne
eruption appears Infection Is distributed throughout
the house and neCbborhood ana this Is as wen known
to the Board of Health logical man. Humanity
however demands that the removal OF the SICK from tue
cellar and tenanthOuse. should be recommended ana
occasionally enforced, because recovery Is often p0s
sbe, without pure air In abundance ana warmth 10 th9
body This only be secured In large and well
and ventilated apartments such as may be FOUND OF al
mirabe construction in the smallpox hospital. Black.
Wells Island We have gladly caused the removal OF
patients that institution, ana witnessed recOverles
which would have been very doubtful In boarding
house. ,,n -,
on the udder OF the COW seventy years ago. was SUP
posed to have originated from disease OF the horses
hoOf called the grease and to have been communicated
TO the cows by hthy grooms VINO assisted III tne mlkg
is we'll ascertaned that 1t was communicated
by the virus Of actual smallpox or, varol from the
fingers of some affected person The fact that both dis
nearly similar course In tho time on neuDa
and eruption, and that both are diseases OF the skim
but above all the protective power Dy vaccination from
varioa smallpox, might well have called the supposed
origin in question In the earlier days OF tue discovery. IL
is now, however proved by introducing tho varolous
lymph the udder OF the COW, and the consequent
production OF the vaccine yescle, hence called r~oIa
The only method of obtaining the publication of the
vaccine lymph Is the frequent and periodical introduc
Of the OF SINAI pox taken from tho patient
presents the cOmpetest characteristics OF that
the perfect vaccine vescle accidentally developed
on brought TO this city for saeit remarkable
for It's distinctive character and was used by many
gentlemen well Ourself The reintroduclOn OF the
vaccine virus into the cow is not likely to strengthen ts
protective power; when 1t has passed through many
chdrens stems cOnsecutiyely Is partially spent the
veslce becomes imperfect in It's character and ceases
to be protective The introduction OF smallpox lymph
INTO the will OF the protecting power
of the vaccine eectualy and then II the child be vac
cinaed consecutyely at intervals OF few weeks TILL the
longer appears, there Is doubt that VIII
afford efeetua immunity from smallpox for life. Spuri
Gus or insufficient vaccination Is doubtless the cause Of
all attacks Of smallpox, yariooid which, as Its name
implies essentially the same poison, only OF Lighter
degree Let you Mr. Editor 10 urge this mat
ter upon the people. Let Immediately form Vaccine
Society for the purpose Of supplying pure vaccine virus
TO our physicans doubt mOst OF them Will heartily
cooperate with brain aud pocket. ID.
That smallpox with It's extensive eruption, violent ana
dangerous fever and frequent fatality aud deforny OF
face should be reduced TO single vesico on the arm
any other part OF the body desired by the surgeon or
patient, with danger and no defOrmity, by Simply
planting uder OF the creature not innOcu'
liable by form Of syphilis and that this benefeent
discovery should completely protect us during HE rom
80 loathsome disease, Is boon beyond the power ot
language TO express. How then shall we secure ltf
There but way and we call on YOU fellow citi-
zens, and the press, TO see TO II.
Nep- York, Jan. a. 1870. EDWARD ii, DIXON