Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-26
VACCINATION FOR SMALLPOX.

The ignorant are always skeptical, and
they regard vaccination against smallpox as
a humbug concocted by physicians for the
purpose of fleeing the public. If the small
pox confined itself solely to this class, the
public would be the gamer by its ravages, as
such people are not fit to live. But, unfortu-
nately, they disseminate the disease, which
could have heen prevented but for an iguor-
ance that is culpable and malignant. Small
out the United States. Everybody should be
compelled to vsccinate. In order to show
the protective effects of vaccination we give
the following testimony, which ought to be
sufficient 10 remove all doubts. 1t is GER
tainly conclusive. As recently stated by the
London Times, DIR. Henry Tompkins, medi-
cal inspector of the fever hospital belonging
to the Manchester Royal Infrmary at Mon
sail, in a paper which he read recently at
the Owen College, said:
The most striking OF all evidence Ia, perhaps
that derived from the smallpox hospitals them
selves. Here the protective influence of yaccina-
ton is seen and proved in manner beyond all
years, no nurse or servant having been revaccin-
ated has contracted the disease, and evidence
OF the same character can myself DT1ng forward,
for during the whole time that have had charge
OF the fever hospital more than thousand cases
Of smallpox have passed under my care yet
servant, nurse, porter or other person engaged
there has after revaccination. ever taken i'll,
though exposed daily 10 infection in its most con-
cen trated form. Ore woman, laundress, who
escaped vaccination. took the disease and died;
one nurse, who some years before had suffered
from smallpox, and was then considered protected,
had a very mild attack; and this summer a work
man, who did not live on the premises, but came
in to work as a painter, was not vaecinated.
aud had rather a severe attack; and still
more recently a servant who by an oversight
before being yseeinatsd hid arpHdrtSs tteK Again
.s,i,ffy M Inc students who during the last two
'ears have attended the hospital for clinical in
truction, not one has suffered all having been re-
mallpox wards And in their case the false argu-
nent which opponents of vaccination have
~ nurses and Others in attendance on the sick, |
H.: that intercourse and exposure to infection
enders them proof against It by the system be |
IS these gentlemen attend the hospital only few |
Tours once week. 1 defy the most enthusiastic |
Dr conscientious of antvaccinators to produce sv
'ring forward even half dozen per- |
ons, choose them whence he may, |
mallpox, and we expose them as the students are |
exposed, without more or less Of the number tax |
ng the disease. Facts such as these should con- |
erL the most ardent anti vaccnator from his folly
nd convince him that a weapon of defense so |
owerful as vaccination should not be left to the |
leasure of the individual, but that the State has
he right and duty to look after its most thorough
erformance.
These facts demonstrate beyond the posi-
ility of doubt that vaccination is an infal- !
ble preventive of smallpox, and as IAN
unce of prevention is worth a pound OF
ure," everybody should be required to vac