The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-20
Hc,YT s. CO. Proprietors,
vaccination Not a Delusion.

Previous to the year ITO, DR.. Jenner's at
tention was first called to the subject OF vaccln-
alton while student at Sodbury, near Bristol
by q country woman, who stated that she could
not take the smallpox, as she had cow-pox
Prosecuting his studies, he afterwards discov-
cred that milkmaids in certain district con-
tracted a pustular disease of the hand from the
cow, which they called cow-pox. In 1896 he
had an opportunity of testing his theory, that
this disease might be communicated to another
person by inoculation, and prove as effectual as
in the tirst. Matter was taken from the hand
of maid, who had been infected by her mas
ter's COWS, and inserted into the arm OF boy
eight years old He had the cow-pox regular
ly, and afterwards was inoculated with small
pox matter without effect. :.
In 179S,. DIR. Jenner made known the result
of his experiment by publishing a work on
.HariolG Taccina. The discovery was received
like that of inoculation; a few regarded it with
favor, but majority rejected it with derlslon.
The foundation of success had, however,
been too carefully and accurately laid by the
experiments of Jenner to be readily removed,
and vaccination gained rapidly in professional
and public favor Within four years 1T was
successfully practiced in all parts of the world,
and costly presents poured in upon the dis
coverer. =.
Parliament voted him 91,00O at one time,
and subsequently 100000, and learned sclen-
tifc societies honored him with membership
and medals. Since his death his statue has
been erected in London.
The value of vaccination is seen in the re-
markable reduction of the mortality OF small
pox in all civilized countries. In Copenhagen,
not single death from smallpox occurred In
the thirteen years following 1910. In single
German town, the number of cases OF small
pox annually was 500, and the deaths 5O, be-
fore vaccination was introduced; IN the nrst
year after thorough vaccination, there were
eight cases and one death, and for the next
nine years there were but four cases, and no
deaths. Accurate statistics. show that the
smallpox mortality in Tristie during the vac
cnation period has been seventy-tiye times less
than before; in Moravia, twenty-one times
less; in Silesia, twenty.nine times. less; IN
.Westphalia, twenty-five times less; in Berlin,
nine times less, and in Sweden, thirteen times
less. Smallpox has lost all its terrors, and is
now Justly regarded as harmless disease by
the great mass of mankind. ,Frs4 sfsE
There, are certain prejudices, however, which
vaccination has long had to combat, and which
are still too frequently met with:
First-It is alleged that it does not fully pro-
tect against smallpox. This is untrue; when
vaccination is thoroughly performed, it is sure
y preventative.
second-It is believed that other diseases
may be communicated by vaccination; hence
the erriptions which sometimes appear after
the operation. In reply it may be stated that
it has been determined by the most careful ex-
periments that pure vaccine virus will cause
only the vaccine disease. IAN.
The amount of evidence upon this question
and confirming this statement, is absolutely
overwhelming. Whenever eruptions appear,
they are due to an inherent vice in the system,
and not to vaccination. :.
Other diseases, it is true, can be inoculated,
but only when the germs of such disease are
used; and it should be added, these germs are
not contained in the proper vaccine lymph,
even when taken from q person suffering from
inocuable disease. 1t is apparent, therefore,
that vaccination should be performed with
great care first, in the selection of pure and
ripe vaccine virus, and second,in the thorough
application of the virus. The best age is be-
tween the third and six month-though in case
of exposure the operation may. be performed
at any age. At some period of infantile life,
every child, without exception, should be vac
'cinated.-Erchdnqe. -,