Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-26

and that only about 81 per cent. OF
these latter succumbed, whereas 60
per cent. Of those not operated
upon died. There is, however, some
reason to doubt the accuracy Of the
statistics in the matter Of cases of
cholera among vaccinated subjects,
who have such enormous confidence in
The efficacy Of the incubation that they
often conceal attacks from which they
suffer, believing that recovery being
certain it is unnecessary to resort to
further medical treatment.
One most important point appears to
be established. If the vaccination does
not entirely insure against the invasion
Of the disease itself, it greatly weakens
its effects. and this is tacitly admitted
by DIR. Ferran, who warmly recon-
mends a second incubation with more
yirulent virus. lie states that he was
personally attacked by the epidemic,
and with all its worst symptoms
vomiting, diarrhGa,e and lipothymy
and chills-but that these disap-
peared in the course Of few hours, al
though numerous comma-bacilli were
found. Naturally he attributes his
complete and speedy recovery to the
happy effects Of revaccination. NJ.
PAUL. went even further, and can now
inoculste himself with a non-attenuated
microbus with impunity, either by the
simultaneous process or in draught.
To use his own words: mot only
does the domesticated microbus render
the savage microbus inOfiensive, but
consider it a drastic preferable to either
EPSON salt or castor-oil." (Sic.)
Another most important point, which
is unanimously admitted by the COM
mission, is the positive nervousness
Of this vaccine. Among the | 900 in
dividuals who have already been
operated upon not one serious accident
has been recorded. The pretext seized
upon by the Central Government to pro-
hibit DR.. Ferran's practice was based
on the fact that three deaths occurred
two OF three days after the vaccination
Of the subjects, and the appearance
upon others Of assesses at the points
Of injection. To this the Doctor re-
piled that the three persons who died
were already contaminated before they
used the preventive, and that they,
| therefore. died Of cholera and not OF
vaccination. He attributes the alb
cesses to the carelessnesS Of the physi-
clans who operated they did not take
proper precautions to guard against
the incubation Of certain atmospheric
germs by which these accidents were
produced. Evidently they are of
the same order of accidents as
were noticed in the anti-epizootic
vaccinations Of cattle. According to
Pasteur's theory, these accidents oc-
CURED whenever the needle Of the
syringe used for the injection had
touched the hide Of the animal before
insertion beneath it. If then, the OPP
Grafton were really dangerous, more
cases Of complications and accidents
would have been marked. As each
patient is inoculated on both arms the
operation has been performed $4,000
times; therefore, again, the dozen
cases Of accidents are not sufficient to
Justify the sweeping condemnation Of
the theory.
The commission intrustcd with an
exhaustive examination of this subject
has been directed to report specially on
two points First, the precise nature
of the vaccine invented by DR.. Ferran;
second, the preventive effect of the
vaccination. On the first point it has
reported First, it really contains the
regular bacillus which was discovered
by Or. Koch; second, it contains no
foreign corrosive matter, and no
alkaloids which might have been
added by DR.. Ferran in order
to produce the accidents Of vac
cination. On the second point it has
so far accomplished nothing. 1t has
read the statistics of II 900 vaccina-
tions; it has witnessed 100 VAGINA
tons at PUG and 100 vaccinations at
I the Athenaum Of Valencia &; but this
is insufficient. In order to conclude
authoritatiyely, at least one third or one
half Of the population of the localities
chosen for experiment must be vaccina-
ted, and this seems to be impossible.
Not that the populations are adj
verse on the contrary, they are most
willing. but the Government throws
every obstacle in the way. 1t permits
the experiments Of the commission, al
though it prohibits those Of DIR. Ferran,
but it does everything possible to cause
annoyance and to hamper action by es-
tablshing a sanitary Gordon around
every point which is selected by
the commissioners for ats opera
tons. For instance, the commits
sioners were allowed to enter Alginet,
but on the eve OF their intended
visit these were informed that after that
visit they must undergo a quarantine OF
seven full days before they could return
to their headquarters at Valencia, and
the same thing happened for Museros,
village Of 1900 inhabitants. where
between the 10th Of May last and the
9th of June there have been $50 cholera
cases. Of whom 81 had died and 80 are
still under treatment.
This will give fair idea Of the stu
alton. Possibly it may not be caused
merely by governmental prejudice, and
that If the remedy could be shown to
be genuinely efiicacious the opposition
Of the Government might be withdrawn.
But in that case, why all these OBJ
stacles put in the way of demonstra-
ton: A rupture is imminent be-
tween the commission, which. irrl-
tated by continual annoyances, and DR..
Ferran. who declares that unless he
be treated with more courtesy and fair
ness he will have no more to do with
the official investigation, butwlll appeal
directly to the public at large. And
vet there are vast interests involved IN
the ques,iOn-problemS worthy OF
scientific curiosity-but unfortunately
Setor Romero Robledo does not appre-
ciate their importance. Perhaps, as
some one has suggested, he fsncies that
by blowing out the first light which
has cleaned in Spain for centuries his
49,, la banded down TO pos