Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-06-01

the health of infants which should deter
vaccination except in extreme peril o:
contracting unmodified small pox, as Gu
taneous eruptions, teething sc.
A condition. peculiar to married ladies,
utterly forbids re-vaccination, and even if
|he Individual has never been yaccinated,
is equally forbidden, unless there is a
moral certainty of Immediate attack of the
small poX.
The vaccine disease is alnost certain o
result in death under the circumstance
and should only be induced to avoid the
still more inevitably fatal termination of
|uRnlnodified small pox.
y all cases when prudential circum-
Ices raise doubts as to the proDriety
and safety of re-vaccination, the cicatrices
or scars Of former vaccina should be
thoroughly examined to ascertain whether
the vaccine disease had once, however
remotely, been completely established in
the sy stem.
1t it appear that one single vesicle had
gone through all the stages, leaving the
specific marks of pertec: formation, it is
evidence of greater degree of immunity
against, and modification of future small
poX. whatever period may have elapsed,
than any number Of imperfect scars. even
of recent date.
The scars of perfect vaccinia are IN
delible, preserving their perfect character
istics and usually, unless injured by ex-
ternal causes, remain for life.
Where they appear obscure, in half
formed, or not perfectly indented. or
lacking any of the essentials of a perfect
vaccine cicatrice, il is mistake TO refer it
to the lapse of time, or to conclude it in
dictates wearing out OF its effects, or
gradual return of susceptibility to small
pox; it simply indicates its original pro-
tective character. The degree OF protec-
tiol. originally afforded is easily detected
by the intelligent practitioner from the
number and perfection OF the scars. But
they indicate nothing rs to how much
the protective influence has been denim
ished by time.
Whilst one perfect scar is evidence of
greater protective influence. whether OF
entire immunity, or modification. than
half 4 dozen imperfect ones. the existence
of TWO, three, four Or more of well defined
perfect cicatrices multiplies, III 4 ratio
with their number, the probable degree OF
protective Influence wrought by the
vaccine disease, of which they are the
signs.
No number or perfection, however, of
these signs, furnishes proof of perfect i'm
munity against vari oloid, in all cases.
But individuals wearing such signs OF
vaccine are often exempt from varioloid,
and il they acquire it. will be amelicrated
in proportion to the perfect development
of the marks, their number and regency.
It is not every shiny scar OH the arm
that is to be attributed to vaccinia.-
Chicken-pox, burns, SC, often leave
marks of similar outlines. But vaccinia
leaves peculiar rited impressions, readily
detected i'll the scar.
1t is only when these exist, that any
reliance can be placed on protective in
tluence though the scars be known to
have originated in even recent attempts
at vaccination.
Caution in reference to reliance on
former vaccinations is of real importance
only under circumstances, in the indi-
vidual rendering re-vaccination perilous
at present. and when small pox eontaglon
is at the doors presenting peril of life on
the other hand.
In such cases, the chances of already
modified susceptibility il the system. are
10 be weighed against the chances of
present exposure to the pestilent con-
tagion in its utmost vigor.
When small pox or variolous contagion
is more distant than the adjoining tenant
in town, the risk of vaccination should
not be incurred under the temporary cir
cumstances of i'll health IN children &c.
and when forbidden in the case OF married
ladies vacciEia should not be risked unless
the individual is already exposed to the
contagion, hs when the pestilent matter
exists in the same ROOM
| But no matter what the forbiddlne
cause may be, if the individual has never
been vacci'lated with effect, aud is GER
tainly exposed to small pox, vaccinig
should be produced. as soon as possible
by TWO or three separate NEGOTIATIONS Of
vaccine virus.
| If individuals, thus unfortunately
situated, should enjoy, by nature, an i'm.
munity against small pox they probably
possess the same degree of immunity
against the vaccine disease. So even in
| this possible case no harm would probably
result, ION vaccination.
With such exceptions, every body should
be vaccnated every five years. and nc
matter when it has been previously done
every one should be re-vaccinated when.
ever the small pox is in the vicinity.
| Families should never be vaccinated BY
persons ignorant of the vaccine disease, it.
ordinary effects Oh the constitution or the
! circumstances that aggravate its course.
The disease, called vaccinia. or uaccina
is produced by incubation Of matter
| directly OF indirectly from the COW il
| Which the uisGase-ot cow-pox exists.