The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-22
VACCINATION,

VACCINATION.
Previous to the introduction of vaccination
10000 people died of smallpox annually in
Europe; $4,000 in Great Britain and ireland
alone. Catlin asserts that of 10000, 600 In
dams one-half were destroyed by smallpox
From August, 1871 to August, 1872, 4, All
deaths occurred in Philadelphia, the mortality
being one of every five cases. incubation
was introduced into England from the East by
Lady Mary Wortley Montague, in IVA, and
into America by DR.. Bolyston, of Boston, in
172l. This process, which, by the mildness
of the attack was nearly always protective of
the individual, at the same time propagated
the disease by multiplying the amount of
virus. Jenner's introduction into English
practice of vaccination proper-thatis by inoc
ulation with the virus of cow-poX known be-
tore his time among dairymen-has greatly
abridged not only the destructiveness but the
prevalence of smallpox. The theory Of vac
cinnation is, in brief, that the vaccine virus is
merely the diluted virus of common smallpox
or variola. A vaccinated person in whom
smallpox, and ordinarily is not susceptible to
the malignant, or indeed, any form of the
disease. With most of the zymotic disease
smallpox, scarlatina, measles, whooping cough,
diphtheria, etc.-one attack, even though not
severe, usually secures immunity for life. No
fact is better established in medicine than
that most persons are, by one good vaccination,
protected for life; also, that vaIioloid-modi-
fed mallpOx-occurring in the yaccinated is
theless an unjustifed distrust of vaccination
has, within few years, done harm in many
localities. Mr.. Henry Bergh, two years ago,
in a widely-quoted article in the North Amer
lean Review, called vaccination 'hideous
monstrosity" and a scientific deforrnity."
His diatribes, coming from well-knOwn hui
manitarian, rather than from the ordinary
medicine cranks, who periodically burst into
popular serial literature, did much to bolster
up the credulous class who believe in leaving
everything to nature; andso, undoubtedly, Mr.
Berghs brilliant and dogmatic, although to-
tally unproven and unscientfic statements
have caused the loss of many lives. In Paris
in 1870, a somewhat similar alarm about the
introduction of vaccinal syphilis" was the
cause of very destructive variolous cpl
demic among those who refused vaccination
Probably by the enforcement of vaccination
this foul disease might not only be controlled,
but actually extilpated. This has been almost
entirely effected i'll ireland, where, on various
accounts, smallpox might be expected to
abound. The statistics as to protection by
vaccination derived from the medical records
of both armies in the Flanco-Prussan war are
in themselves sufficiently convincing to any
candid Judgment.
Experience shows that u number of persons.
after several years. leacquiro the susceptibility
to smallpox. The highest authorities place
the proportion liable to variolous infection
after having been vaccinated at . 1-3 per cent
OF $1,000 cases of smallpox in the London
hospitals, in the epidemic of 1903, only
four presented proof of having been revacci-
mated In $780, in the same city the death
rate per million in London from smallpox was
ninety among the vaccinated against $3.50
among the unvaccinated.
In the light of all the facts of medical expe-
rience and practice, it is safe and advisable on
the occasion of epidemic smallpox to repeat
the vaccination. The operation is insigrif
cant, without danger of any moment, and if
followed by genuine vescicle and sore arm,
the brief discomfort may insure permanent
immunity from the dreaded disease