The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-02-09

1t will thus be seen that out of total of fifty
seven cases thirty have completely recovered
and eighteen have died. OF the remaining nine
cases SIX can be considered morally sure to get
well and three to die. Adding these numbers
to the list of recoverIes and deaths respectively
gives thirty-slx recoverles and twenty-one
deaths out OF a total of fifty-seyen cases. Now,
though the death rate TINS indicated is rather
high, l contend that when the mlserably defec-
tive hyglenlc surroundings of the class among
whom this disease finds the most Of its victims
are taken into consideration, as also the de-
ploraby mistaken and miscellaneous treat
ment to which they are subjected that the cpl.
demic instead of being marked by that deadly
nallgnity with which popular notion has III
vested It, is, In the contrary one Of rather mod
crate severity.
There is one more point upon which / wish
briefly to touch if you kindly indulge me with
the necessary space. 1t concerns the evidence
presented by the events of this epidemic, AMI
the one that has just come to a close in Donald
sonyllle as to the value of q preventive mea-
sure which in respect of the number of lives it
has saved III the past and the progressively in
creaslng number that will un undoubtedly be pre-
served by it IN the future, must be looked upon
as the most benetcent discovery that the his
tory of medical triumphs has to record. Every
case of small pox seen by me, and they have
been not few, has been carefully examined
with reference to the fact of previous yacci-
nation. the date of performance, and the char
acter of scar or scars. As result of such in
qulry can confidently say that this epidemic
has not furnished, to my knowledge, a single
authentic instance of small pox contracted
after recent and effective vaccination. For the
sake of precision | would state that by re-
cent and effective vaccination [ mean one
that has been performed within five years. and
that has left as q result a certain quantity and
quality OF cIcatr1x. In none of the few cases of
small pox after vaccination observed by me
was the date OF vaccination later than 1894,
and IN but two, even of these, were the scars of
the character that consider typical
For the sake of forestalling the objection
that some may urge, that perhaps there were SO
few vacclnated subjects. that from the nature
of things ell the cases would be among the I'M
vacclnated, would state that DIR. Mc1alliard
and myself during the last three years had vac
cinated a very considerable number, not to
speak of the contingent furnished by the other
exposed to the contagion rs the class of I'M
vaccinated. These remarks are made in the IN
terest Of that general state of unGuestIoning
and implicit faith in the efficacy of vaccination
preventive of small pox, which it is so de-
slrable to establish and maintain in the minds
OF the people. being as 1t IS the sine qua non
OF its universal practice. Upon such univer-
sal practice is based the hope of all logically
constituted medical minds of the Ultimate
eras.on of small pox from the nosolcgy of &C
tuaily existing diseases and It's relegation to
that category of extinct diseases that it is the
dream of the apostles of preventive medicine
progress Of general intelligence to believe that
the time will como when popular recognition
of the inestimable benefits conferred by yacci-
nation is so complete and thorough that the
obligation for all to avail themselves of it. will
be little short of sacramento. Respectfully,
J. d. HANSON, N. d.
Dept. Health Officer, Parish Ascension.