The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-26
SWALLOWING sMALLPox.
A Peculiar Medical Theory Put in Practice
in an Institution for Children.
New York Tribune.l

New York Tribune.
care these children vaccinated?" said q
physician of the Health Departments vac
cinating corps to the elderly dOctorin charge
of the institution he was visiting.
''They are" responded the elderly man OF
physic.
"But where,arethe marks on fheir arms?"
"There are none"
"You vaccinate them on their legs?''
NO they swallowed it," said the elder
with bland snile
Then the doctors regarded each other, on
one side with amazement, on the other with
defiant consciousness of virtue and an up
right mind. The vaccinating doctor was
narrowed up by awful thoughts of children
lunching on quilts and ivory points. Bat
the swallowing doctor kindly came to his aid
by producing a bottle of small white lOz-
eDges. These are what [ give" he said.
They contain q very high attenuation of
the matter from smallpox pustule, and, if
swallowed, they not only cure but prevent
smallpox"
The speaker was DR.. s. Swan, who is in
charge of the House of the Holy Family"
in Second avenue near Eighth street. This
is Roman Catholic Charitable Institution
for children whose parentsare unable or IN
fit to care for them. 1t contains at present
about geo young girls between the ages of
five and seventeen. 4 short time since it
was reported to the Health Board that there
was case of smallpox at the Home. A
physician was sent up and found that the
sickness was not case of smallpox. He also
found that both Mrs. Starr, a wealthy lady
who is interested in the Institution. and DIR.
Swan were strongly opposed to the ordinary
metfsa OF vaccination, and were firm be-
levers in the efficacy of a smallpox virus
taking internally. Dr. Day went there, but
failed 20 see Mrs. Starr, and finding that
many of the children were absolutely un-
vaccinated and without protection: from
smallpox, DR.. J. B. Taylor, the Chief of the
Vaccination Bureau, visited the Home and
vaccinated twenty-five children. DR.. Swan
courteously consented, but held to his
theory. His theory and his lozenges, how
ever, were better for ornament than for use.
In every case the vaccination took thor
oughly, showing that these little girls would
have fallen victims TO smallpox had they
been exposed. DR.. Swan, although nomi
nally homeopathic physician, is not con-
sidered regular homeopath, if the express
sion is allowable, but he carries the ex-
tremest views of Hahnemann in his last
days 10 the farthest point His process OF
preparing the loZenges showed the attenua-
ton doctrine carried out to its last limit.
He obtained one drop of matter from puS-
tule on a person i'll with the smallpox.
This was diluted with 100 drops of water.
Then drop of this solution was diluted
with 300 drops of water, and the process
continued until about the millionth attenu-
alton was reached. Then, procuring little
sugar pellets or lozenges, he placed
a drop of this very much weakened water
with glass rod on each lozenge. 1t is need
less to say that neither in taste. smell, APP
pearance or effect do these lozenges differ
from powdered sugar. Dr. Swan said that
anyone taking these lozenges would be i'll
soon afterward with very mild form of
variolotd. A bottle of them has been pro-
cured az the Health Department. and they
have been freely swallowed by various per-
sons without effect There have been strong
expressions of opinion, however. in regard
to the danger of leaving children exposed to
smallpox through the mistaken idea of their
Guardians