The Wilmingtonian., 1885-01-24

positive detriment. The same is done with
the laws restricting prostitution, and it
is instructive, so far as these latter are con-
cerned, TO note how the same tactics en-
ployed against them will make vaccination
appear dangerous and destructive.
1t is true--and singular truth-that in
England, since vaccination was made COM
pulsory, in the year of 1867, smallpox has
become more prevalent. But this, so far
from being an argument against, is, in fact,
one for vaccination. According to an able
sanitary officer, DR.. Cameron, it is due to
two principal causes, namely, deterlora-
tion of efficacy in the humanized lymph
used, and the Undersigned but actual adop-
tion in various instances, for purposes OF
vaccination, of lymph which is not vac
cine lymph at all, but true smallpox virus.
To the combined operation of these causes
the production of state of things analo-
gous to that which existed when incubation
OF smallpox was the rule in that country,
and the gradual diminution of protective
power in our real safeguard against the
disease by means of true vaccination-Dr.
Cameron would assign the exceptional small
pox epidemic of ls7073, and subsequent
undue prevalence of the malady.
1t has also been pointed out by Sir Thomas
Watson, NJ. D., that in numerous Instances
what was called "bovine virus" was OBJ
tanned by inocculating COW with smallpox
virus, and using the lymph from the pus-
tules TO charge quills and points. He OBJ
serves that in this way prodigous amount
of mitigated smallpox must have been un-
consciously scattered about and kept up,
and the otherwise mysterious vaccination
statistics of England become capable of ex-
planation.
We believe that this dangerous error is
not yet wholly extinct among the profession
of this country. All are not fully aware
that the cowpox which furnishes genuine
bovine virus is wholly distinct from small
pox; that it is in no case 'another form
of disease, ''ss it is sol etimes said; and tha
it neither can produce variola nor be pro
duced by it,
Although some of the London medica
journals have criticised Dr. Cameron's view
sharply, there is no doubt of lis correct
= ness. Supported as his second proposition
q is by such an authority as we have quoted
= his first one is proved by the unanimous oh
!, servations of those who have studied til
comparative effects Of bovine and long hu
: manized lymph on the human subject.
> is evident to such that the latter loses pow
:, eT, and does not Impress the system so de
!, cidely. That it is wholly free from the pos
M sibility of transferring depraved condition
Of the blood, is another and most valid al
:, gument fol its exclusive use.
II That smallpox, in spite of its upexplainf
ble frequency, has lost much of its terror
:, by the modifying effects of vaccination, is
. truth not sufficiently emphasized to-day
n In fact, one might say that the produotio
a of disastrous consequences, in those it di
not kill, is one of the almost forgotten fact
30 about smallpox. Even in medical account
re- of the disease these consequences are t.
! lightly dismissed. Blindness, carbuncle
m loss of hair, loss of nails, enlarged gland
70 large metastatic assesses, skin eruption
pigment spots, ulcers, gangrene, ETC., etc
n are among the legacies of this disease,
N say nothing of the common dsfignremel
~ and the risk to life.
,s This, as well as its native malignancy,
,s well illustrated in India. One of the COul
ell of Bengal lately referred to the immens
s. s---S
le in India QOO, 900 deaths, in round number
a occurring yearly, on an average, from til
n cause, in the Bengal Presidency alone), an
ot to the great physical disabilities, notabI
!. Disagreement and bin ness which were a,
10 to be occasioned among those who suiIere
h from the disease, but who escaped its fat;
effects. Further, he remarked: 'Tn til
"a fieerative language of the east, smallpox
IS called the inevitable bridge which ever
n child has to cross before entering into life
). and recovery from the disease is considere
d second birth-Other diseases are locke
5 upon as accidental, but smallpox is regard
v ed as indeed it is, almost universal
is touches the keenest of human seusi biitie,
Tor there are thousands in this country who
!. though spared by it from death, still hav
g traces of its violence in the deep marks oI
$ the face or the loss of an eye"
' These facts prove that its diminishe
0 severity in Western Europe and the Unite
l. States is not owing to the vrulence of tn
J. disease diminishing with time, hut to tn
: influence of some other cause; and we mus
/. strenuously maintain that the cause is non
other than vaccination.
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