The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-06-17
Sanitary Legislation for Maryland.
By CHARLES NJ. ELLIS, NJ. D., MEMBER OF
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
CONTINUED.


!Small,por enjoys the unenviable dstinc-
ton of being the most frightful and destruc
tive pestilence that ever existed. No re-
fiecting man can read the history of it's
ravages without sense of inexpressible
relief mingled with profound thanks to it's
immortal conqueror. The assertion is not
rash, that in the face of this ever present
pestilence, the civilization of to-day could
not have been attained. Its annual NOR
tality in London, for the first half of the
18th century, was eighty in every thou
sand deaths from all causes; in the last
half it was ninety-tnree in every thousand,
amounting in exceptional years. as in 1896,
to one hundred and eighty -four. In all
Europe it has been estimated that it caused
494, 600 deaths per annum prior to the dis
covery of vaccination; figures representing
an untold and incalculabe amount of
wretchedness, poverty, and manning in the
survivors.
But small pox is equally notable since
Jenner's great discovery, as the most pre-
ventable of diseases. From the decade
ending ITO, to the decade ending 1860, the
London bills of mortality show the follow
ing progressive fall in the deaths of small
pox per thousand, per annum: ITO, 10S;
1880, 9S; 1850, 81; 1900, IS; 1920, AZ; 1880,
80; 1910, %; 1850, 16; 1860, II. (Guy.)
This result was accomplished by vaccina-
ton, unaided by State patronage, unen-
forced by State authority. In those States
where it was compulsory, more remarka-
BILE effects followed. Jenner left record of
the complete triumph of his discovery in
the Danish dominions and in Bombay.
Thus he writes: "From the year 1862 to
1899 the number that died of smallpox in
the Danish dominions, amounted to 8, 72S
About the year 1902 vaccination was first
introduced, and the practice became gen
eral, but not universal; however, IS per-
sons only died of the small pox in the year
1910. Vaccination, by command of the
King, was now universally adopted, and
small pox incubation prohibited, and from
the year 1910 to 1919, not single case of
smallpox occurred "From Bombay,
learn the smoll-pox is there completely sub
dued, not case having occurred for the
last two years. These are not excep
tional cases. The protective power of vac
cination is attested in every epidemic of
smallpox, and it can only be denied by
those who contradict demonstrated facts.
During the epidemic which prevailed in
Baltimore in 1912 and 3, 1884 cases of
smallpox were treated at the Marine Hos
pital of which 522 cases, or AZ per cent
died. OF the whole number treated, 70
per cent were unvaccinated, and 81 per
cent vaccnated. OF the whole number
treated who were without good evidences
of vaccination. SO per cent died; when
good evidence of vaccination existed, only
per cent died. OF these last cases there
were five, but two of these were past 60
years of age, and had not been vaccinated
since infancy, and two others died of pneu-
mona, one after recovery from smallpox.
So that of the 523 fatal cases, there was
but one in which the evidence of good vac
cnation was unquestioned, that could fairly
be ascribed to uncomplicated smallpox.
DR.. j. S. Conrad, Trans. Med. Chirg.
Fculty Of Nd, 1874 This class of facts
abounds at every outbreak of the disease,
and could be quoted indefinitely. Yet, it
is surprising how generally vaccination is
neglected, considering that it is almost
universally admitted to be protective. In
1868, Ireland had 12S,S50 births, but of
these only 100, 80 were vaccinated. Not
withstanding the disastrous epidemic of
/ 1871 and 1872, out of 81, 900 births in Phila,
de,phia in 1878, there was only $685. vac
cinations. Nor have the repeated warn.
ings of the last four years had any greater
effect upon our own people, for at this very
time 10th December) very fatal out
break of smallpox prevails at Cumber-
land.
Education in this instance, at least, has
been shown to be inadequate of itself to
deal with avoidable disease, and the strong
arm of the law must enforce vaccination il