New-York tribune., 1881-12-25
UiCcIN4TION IND DISEASE.

To me Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The yearly visitation OF smallpox to
nearly al our large cities brings ~ nina Dr. JraherS
famous discovery. while to The nru comes the prck OF
tho lancet, with tho consequent lulSpo-'n ana the
average citizen feels no Is safe again L. Is conceded by
every body who has read upon the subject tht since
the Introduction Of vaccination, smallpox has nearly
ceased 10 bc epidemic; that 10 appears IN mildcr
FORM and that the proportion Of deaths Is merely uon
na IN comparison 10 what they were IN the eighteenth
century. The be- said of other diseases; ana
why not all Oh account OF yaccinauOni Ilphhs ana W
phod feyers were then very prevalent ana iatal IN
their results and the patients who did live were usually
sucrers for life with fever sores and ofokehdo"n con
stiutiouH Now the former disease Is rarely seen and
the latter apprars IN mdcr form and Is usually con
Quoted 10 a healihlu termination. cholera was then
epidemic and the terror OF the civilized world now II
sporadic and Less feared In fact all classes OF serious
disease, except consumption. are now seen In mder
form, are more easily managed ana less ai thhh they
were when Jcnucr made known his discovery.
or course there may have been exceptions to heabOve
deductions. but t should remembered that the virus
may not have been good, or too long ume may nave
elapsed between the applications Of the yrnS or some
constitutional habit may have ncutrazed the effect OF
vaccination" 1 submit the question: "h'tHer All the
statistical arguments that offered In support Of vac
ciunton do not equally apply to other diseases; and
that II stripped OF the credit due to the progress of
medical science and the sanitary and hygcnc influences
developed during the nineteenth century the III effects
OF vaccination do not more than counternnance the
good When vaccination was introduced the
smallpox patient Kept IN a close
room, nlI air iealOusly excluded, blankets
hctped upon him. wItrror nOurlshmeht aioWtu, ana
cathartlc medicine given daily. NOW very hU.e, u any,
medicine IA given the bed covering il light abundance
of fresh air is gvcn with unlr'lucht ana refreshing
drinks; disnccau's placed not only IN the room
but through the ueighhorlood, and the clothing and
bedding an subsequently stIOycd. What change
Ser the results are a attributed 60 vaccination When
In family, often occurs, some or tle chhdfc nave
t.rgf of scnr fever rely aud others very lightly,
tine udiug physician usCrbes - to the condition OF
the blood aud 10 - evidently correct explanation; but
,yh, n "A person has smallpox Ehuyl u Is always claimed
hc the result vaccination, and N the disease Is con
lucnt or Of fatal termination, thcn "tAe virus was not
good' Now mcasle8 scarlet fever and smallpox are
ZymOtc diseases cried by external maniirsta-
ton- and must hc alike dependent upon The condition
of the general system Hs The mdnesH or severity Of
the attack For 10 wcl established priucipir that all
persons are alike subject to cOuHgion and TIE de
yclOpmrbt OF the disease varies III cFeIlty IN Inherent
con. titutlOns and habits " lie.
Vaccination hls been, and always VIII ne, the Dcs,
known means OF dis5cmina nZ bad blood through thA
community. The uqaitlts Of the fathers have always
hpcn visited upon the children, physically but through
yaccinatio the children frequently get the nlquitous
results without iuhertug them. 10 were better that
score should die of smallpox than that should be
poculated with disease that only death can Oherate
10 be handed down from generation t0 generation.
After twenty years observation, nine months OF which
was Ia charge of smallpox hospital and personal eN-
perience OF the disease In severe FORM Hm forced 10
conclude that the bad rc6ults Of vaccination more han
oouutc rba nnce the good ND.
Baltimore, Nd. Dee. 1n~1Asl