The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-01-18
Alarming Spread of the Small-Pox-
Vaccination.

The rapid increase OF the smaI-POA u
the North and West is an alarming fact
which the public safety demands should
not be disregarded. There is no telling
how soon it may strike this region, and
even our own immediate eommuni-
ty. It is an old saying that an ounce
of preventative is worth a pound
of cure; and there was never case
in which the maxim could be more
properly needed. The doctors may to
some extent differ, but we believe the
overwhelming opinion of the profession
is that thorough vaccination is acertain
protection against the disease. But
whatever may be the opinion of nedi-
cal practitioners, experience has demon
strated the truth beyond question. The
New York Herald prints an interesting
interview on the subject with learned
practitioner of that city, DR.. Lewis
A. Sayre, who presents large mass of
valuable and irrefutable statistics on
the subject, all showing that the
efficiency of vaccination has been tested
and established. From this interview
we will reproduce conclusive state
ment:
From the most careful study of statistics
and OF the opinions ard experience of the
most acknowledged authorities physicians
have come to the conclusion that smallpox
is capable of being entirely eradicated
from any community by proper and per-
sistent system of universal and repeated
vaccination. From the year 1898 (when
the immortal Jenner announced to the
world his great discovery to the present
time facts have been constantly accumulat-
ing for the calculation of the most univer-
sally accepted truth ever demonstrated by
the science of medicine, and that is that
vaccination, when properly performed, is
certain and perfect protection against
smallpox. Vaccination, when properly
performed, is a certain and perfect pr0tec-
tion against smallpox, | repeat. That was
my opinion twenty years ago, and all
have heard, read and seen since then
strengthen that opinion. | urged compul-
sorry vaccination then, urge it to-day with
the accumulated force of twenty years adj
ditional experience"
ONE DEATH IN EIGHTY THOUSAND VAC
CITATIONS.
Dr. Sayre took up some memoranda from
his desk and, referring to them occasionally,
went on in an earnest, impressive manner.
"In 1927 a most malignant and fatal cpl
demiG of smallpox ragged in Philadelphia.
Drs Cox, Condle and Meigs, of the COM
mittee of the Medical Society of that city,
report that but one-now you ought to re-
peat that 'one' several times to fasten it in
the peoples minds-but one we'll ascertain
ed death from the disease among $4,000
vacciuated persons came to the knowledge
of the committee. Let the phantom physi-
clans take up the point and consider it.
Drs Bell and Mitchell report that of 2i8
case of variola and varoloid treated at the
smallpox hospital 155 were unprotected by
vaccination, of whom So died, were in
oculated, of whom died, and SO had been
vaccinated of whom but single one died"
DR.. Sayre after citing the foregoing
facts in support of his theory, gives con-
elusive evidences of what has been &C
complished in Europe by the use of
vaccination.
The sum of it all is that our Legisla-
ture should lose no time in acting upon
the suggestions of the Board of Health,
recommended to its consideration by the
Governor a few days ago. But the
public must not await the action of that
body. Let every family seek its ply
stefan and have the remedy instantly
applied. Meantime the town and coun-
ty authorities should see TO it that the
destitute are not unprovided for.