Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-11-17
VACCINATION AND SMALLPOX.


Seuner,s Great Discovery and sae nssaass
which II Has Accomplished.
n the truth were known, it would Prod
.b,r ann,ar that vaccination has not ac-
cr.mplished all that Jenner hoped Tor IT,
SEEING his discovery 30 universally accept
=, nj the outset. seeing IL nip epidenics
~ smallpox in the bud and 50 vastly re-
,lnce the mortality within . few years, ne
would have been strangely unimaginatise
ha,1 he not dreamed Of day when vacci-
na1ion should so fully have triumphed as
- have hanished smallpox from the world
fnrsv,r In theory such q hope found
annie warrant The human body fur-
,;sh,.s the only soil, 80 far rs known, on
which the germs Of this disease can mui-
tiply aud retain their virulence. WAGER
ration renders the body no longer habita-
bic for these germs. II therefore the ehti,e
race could be given immunity through
vaccination, time being aiiewed ior tue
destruction Of such unproduetive germs
as had found temporary lodgment else,
where than in the body, smallpox would
xes.ss TO exist Its last germ killed, there
- no more reason 10 suppose that woaiu
ever originate again than there Is 10 eA-
pect the reappearance OF the great AVA,
the mammoth or the glyptodon- In theory
such an achievement might require bat u
month or year, bat in reality century
has not accomplished IL.
The chief reason why vaccination mas
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 gen
erat carelessiiess prevails regardlng II.
No t>tter commentary in this regaru coui"
be made than mention of the fact thar TWO
physicians recently contracted the disease
in New York from a case which came 20
a tfispensary where they were in attend
ance. II physicians fail to give themselves
Immunity. what shall we expect OF the
public at larger
The other chief factor which co-operates
with carsicssncss TO keep smallpox IN eS-
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 ma
many persons who suppose they are being
yuttinated to cleanse the blood II does
not matter much what they think perhaps,
80 long as they submit TO the operation.
But many decline the boon, ana 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, "a fina being
imposed if any child is found unvacei-
mated at n certain age. The result thus
aimed at ia 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 vacclna-
ton of very large proportion of infants
But vaccination in infancy is not enough
It gives immunity for a time, but with
growth thetissues change, and after few
years the body becomes again suscepti-
BILE Reyaccination must bepracticed when
the child is 6 or Z years old and again dur
ing adolescence. Even this third vaccine
ton does not always give protection
throughout life. Immunity should be
tested every few years by repeated vacci-
nations, and only persons who have sub
nitted to this test within few years past
can at any time feel fully assured that
they are insusceptibie to smallpox. lg
norance of this fact is most potent in Civ
ing smallpox "A hold upon the community.
Not alone The ignorant. but many people
Of intelligence. suppose that so long as the
scar of "A previous vaccination appears
they are immune, and with confidence
horn of this deusional belief go about
the world almost as susceptible To small
box us il they had never been vacciunted
For such persons chiefly the present ords
with their obvious moral, are Intended
IIarpcr's Weekly.