The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-11-24
VACCINATION AND SMALLPOX.
Senner's Great Discovery and the Results
Which 1t Has Accomplished.

Which 1t Has Accomplished.
If the truth were known, 1t would prob
ably appear that vaccination has not &C
complished all that Jenner hoped for.it.
Seeing his discovery SO universally accept
ed at the outset, seeing it nip epidemics
of smallpox in the bud and SO vastly re-
duce the mortality within a few years, he
would have been strangely unimaginative
had he not dreamed of a day when vacci-
nation should so fully have triumphed as
to have banished smallpox from the world
forever. In theory such IL hope found
ample warrant. The human body fur
nishes the only soil, so far as known, on
which the germs of this disease can null
tiply and retain their viruience. Vacci-
nation renders the body no longer habita-
BILE for these germs. If therefore the entire
race could be given immunity through
vaccination, time being allowed for the
destruction of such unproductive germs
as had found temporary Judgment else
where than in the body, smallpox would
cease to exist. It's last germ killed, there
is no more reason to suppose that it would
ever originate again than there is to eX-
pect the temperance OF the great awk,
tho mammoth or the glyptodon. In theory
such an achievement might require but a
month or year, but in reality century
has not accomplished it.
The chief reason why vaccination has
failed of this ultimate ideal achievement
is, paradoxical though it sounds, because
vaccination has operated so efficiently.
So nearly has it banished smallpox that
no one now fears that disease, and 4 gen.
eral carelessness prevails regarding it.
No better commentary in this regard could
l1r ia {hny, IF tI,af hat
physicians recently contracted the disease
in New York from case which came to
dispensary where they were in attend
ance. If physicians fail to give themselves
immunity, what shall we expect OF the
public at large?
The other chief factor which co-operates
with carelessness TO keep smallpox in cX-
istence is ignorance. So little is smallpox
heard of now that many among the more
ignorant classes scarcely know the mean
ing of vaccination. Health officers find
many persons who suppose they are being
vaccinated to "cleanSe the BLOOD 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, n fine being
imposed if any child is found unvacci-
mated at q certain age. The result thus
aimed at is accomplished in this country
in a more pleasant way by prohibiting
unvaccinated children from attendance
upon the public schools. This measure,
together 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 a time, but with
growth the tissues change, and after few
years the body becomes again suscepti-
bic. RegacciR tion must be practiced when
the child Is 6 srEyears old and again dur
ing adolescence. Even thiSthirel vasciss-
ton does not always give proteetieA
throughout he. ImMnnity should be
tested every few years by repeated vacci-
nations, and only persons who have SAB
nittea to this tsst within a few ysars past
can at any time feel fully assured that
they are ihsusceptible to smallpox. Ig-
Rorance Of this fact is most potent in Civ
ing smallpox hold upon the community.
Not alone the ignorant, but many people
of intelligence, suppose that so long az the
scar Of a previous vaccination appears
they are immune, ard with confidence
born of this delusional belief go about
the world almost as susceptible to small
pox as if they had never been vaccinated.
For such persons chiefly the present words,
with their obvious moral, are intended
Harper's Weekly.