The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-10
Wholesome Advice.

Editors Dispatch: have TO ask that you
will permit me to say few words with the
hope of alaying the excitement existing in
regard to the spread of smallpox. This is
of importance, even in a business point of
view. IL has been my lot to see my full
share of all the cases that have occurred in
this city for the past thirty years.
In the first place, l have perfect conf
dence in vaccination properly performed
with good yirus-that is, with virus you
know OF your own knowledge to be good.
AS stated in the Dispatch some three
months ago, doctor cannot be certain that
matter sent him from the North or South
either is good, care not whether it be bo-
vine matter or the crust from child. He
should cultivate the matter himself or get it
from some medical friend upon whom he
can RELY. IL the matter is good and the ope-
ration well done land any doctor can do it
welDther is no more danger OF man thus
yaccinated having smallpox than there is OF
his having measles or smallpox ttoice-n0t
much more danger than that he will be
struck by lightning.
Secondly. Every one should be yaccinated
certainly twice ii not Oftener; certainly as
long as In the opinion Of doctor II
"fdkes,v for the public do not know what
the work stake" implies. Vaccination
requires some knowledge, and have seen
whole families ruined by trusting TO their
own vaccinations. The matter may not be
good, or the operation not well down.
This is more important in second than In
first vaccination, because II the first yacci-
nation (as in all infanD does not take we re-
neat II, knowing the fault was in the matter
or the operator, while il in the adult We
NAV be niisled, having no such certain test
f4t. n kox. l..nx IL g..
engaged In practice, or any member of his
family, to have smallpox; and il doctor
who Is daily exposed TO the disease can
thus protect himself and his family. he
certainly can protect people who avoid eX-
posture. The doctor knows that proper
vaccination will protect him and his family,
aud he does not neglect it. The idea that
he has some secret protection is too absurd
for more than mention. The late DIR. AL
bert Snead, who saw more OF the disease
than any man In this city Of his day, had
the most absolute confidence in yaccina-
ton. He had charge Of the smallpox hos
pital for many years.
II we reflect upon the character Of the
people who have had smallpox here il will
be seen how small Is the number Of those
properly yaccinated. OF ~ eases reported
by Or. Cabell last week nj the hospital only
were white. II is true that the disease
seems always partial TO the negro. but not
TO this extent. At one time ii was 20 TO l
at the hospital. l am satisfied II yaccina-
ton was thorough the disease could be
stopped in thirty or sixty days, provided
all strangers coming here TO reside or TO
remain one or two weeks were required TO
register and be yaccinated, il needed. The
vaccinators appointed by the city never did
the work thoroughly, as know Of my own
knowledge. They more than earned the
pittance allowed them. The person vac
cinated should bealways seen by the doctor
six TO ten days after the operation. This
In some cases may require two or three
visits. which these yaeclnators had not the
time to make. hope the new law viii be
carried cut 10 the letter, and that parties
sent around to make investigation OF the
vacclnated will do the work thoroughly;
and II they find the disease breaking out az