The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-12-09
"WAXfe ATION."


In these smallpox times the small boy
is alive to all the terrors and humors of
the situation. He sees more yellow flags
about town than any body. He knows
of more sick Cinnamon than half do
zen Boards of Health He sees men with
badly blotched faces slipping about in
the shades of evening. He studies with
interest the bulboUs nose of the old
soaker leaning against an awning post;
everywhere he finds symptoms of the
dread disease.
In his mlnd vaccination has taken the
place lately occupied by kite flying, mar
bles and base ball. Take thee or four
small boys who have passed through the
ordeal of vaccination and let the small
boy who has yet to undergo that trial
stand by and listen to the conversation.
The young innocent stands with mouth
agape and distended eyes while the others
describe the operation.
The doctor tells yer: Haul off that
coat When yer gets yer sleeve up he
takes grea. big knife and jabs it inter
yer arm up to the handle. The blood
flies all over things an the doctor mops
it up with big sponge. o, Yer have
No IDEA OF THR BLOOD.
Then he takes lot Of stuff what he's got
mixed up on piece Of glass an he stutfs
it into the cut what he's made, and that
il the wa1inatiSn what he's putin
INTER yer. While he's a stutfln in the
waxination every jab he makes is q goin'
TO yer heart,-it's Just like takin' yer life,
so It is Yes, chips in another. IAN
yer got 10 stand still an not move yer
arm mite or the doctor might let his
knife slip an cut big vein and you'd
bleed to death III minite." When the
boy who has Thus been encouraged is
finally marched into the doctors Office
three or four Of his comforterS manage
" slip in and view the operation. looking
as solemn rs so many mourners at a
funeral, but pulling faces AT the victim
every time the doctor turns his back.
The boy who is about to undergo the
operation at last has his arm barred. The
doctor grasps the limb and the boy turns
aside his face and becomes pale. His
teeth are firmly set, yet he tries to smile,
as be catches the eve Of one of his com
panions. He wants TO be brave if pos
sibls.
THE COLD POINT OF THE DOCTORS LANCE
Touches the bare skin of the arm, and he
thinks cash several inches in length
has been made in his flesh. He twists
his head around to look for the wound,
and the doctor twists Il back, telling him
to keep still Then the lance begins
to prick the skin, and the small boy
imagines that the point of the steel is far
down toward the bone of his arm. work
ing among the sinevs and muscles. The
boys lips are compressed, his eyes are
almost closed. his neck is drawn down
between his shoulders and his right leg
SO drawn mp that only the toe of that
foot touches the floor. All the young
comforters sigh fearfully and one OF two
say, "Oh, all" in suppressed
but very thrilling and sympathetic tone.
The small boys chin falls-he gives
himself up for dead. He is sure the
doctor has cut vein and that blood is
squirting in al, directions. He has not
the courage to turn his head TO look. he
is about to faint when the doctor pulls
down bis sleeve and says: "Now. boy,
put on your coat-you re all right The
small boy can hardly believe his ears.
His heart gives bound of Joy and re-
lief. A smile irradiates his face. and in
about a minute he is one of the bravest
of the brave. An hour later he is ont on
the street describing to other boys the
terrors of "waxination," and how the
doctors rip and tear through flesh and
muscles with their big knives.