The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-08
IMMUNITY FROM SMALLPOX.
Vaccination in Youth Does Tot Insure
Safety in Maturity.

The human body furnishes the only
soil, SO far as known, on which the
germs of smallpox can multiply and re-
tain their virulence Vaccination renders
the body no longer habitable for the
germs. II, therefore, the entire race
could be given immunity through vac
cination, time being allowed for the de-
struction of such unproductive germs as
had found temporary Judgment else
where than in the body, smallpox would
cease to exist. Its last germ killed,
there is no more reason to suppose that
it would ever originate again than there
is to expect the temperance of the great
aux, the mammoth or the glyptodon.
In theory such an achievement might re-
quire but month or year, but in re-
atty century has not accomplished 1T.
The chief reason why vaccination has
failed of this ultimate ideal achievement
is-paradoXical though it sounds-be-
cause vaccination has operated so efficient
ly. So nearly has it Danished smallpox
that no one now fears that disease, and
a general carelessness prevails regarding
it. mo better commentary in this regard
could be made than mention of the fact
that two physicians recently contracted
the disease in New York from case
which came to dispensary where they
were in attendance Ii physicians fail
to give themselves immunity, what shall
we expect of the public at large?
The other chief factor which cooper
ates with carelessness to keep smallpox
in existence is ignorance So little is
smallpox heard of now that many among
the more ignorant classes scarcely know
the meaning of vaccination. Health
officers find many persons who suppose
they are being vaccinated to cleanse
| the blood.n 1t does not matter much
what they think, perhaps, so long as
| they submit to the operation. But
| many decline the boon, and these, of
course remain susceptible to the disease.
Our laws offer protection to all, but force
| it upon no one. Abroad. in many places
vaccination is compulsory, fine imposed
| if any child is found unvaccinated at a
certain age. The result thus aimed at
| is accomplished in this country in a
more pleasant way, by prohibiting I'M
| vaccinated children from attendance up
gether with the constant solicitations of
health officers, results in the vaccina-
ton of very large proportion of infants
But vaccination in infancy is not
enough. 1t gives immunity for Time
but with growth the tissues change, and
a1Ief rev years The. body becomes again
susceptible. Re-vaccination must be
practised when the child is six or seven
years cid, and again during adolescence
| Even this third vaccination does not al
ways give protection throughout life
Immunity should be tested every few
years by repeated vaccinations, and only
| persons who have submitted to this test
| within few years past can at any time
feel fully assured that they are insuscep-
tlble to smallpox. Not alone the ignor-
ant, but many people of intelligence,
| suppose that so long as the scar of a
| immune, ard with confidence born of this
delusional belief, go about the world al
most as susceptib BILE to smallpox as if they
had never been vaccinated. Harper's
Weekly