The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-11-10
Vaccination and Small-Pox.

From Harper's Weekly.
II the truth were known il wouC
probably appear that vaccination ha,
not accomplished all that lennel
hoped for it. Seeing his discovery SC
universally accepted at the outset, see
ing it nip epidemlcs of smallpox ir
the bud, and SO vastly reduce the NOR.
tality within few years, he would
have been strangely unimagnative
had he not dreamed of a day when
vaccination should SO fully have
triumphed as TO have banlshed small
pox from the world forever. In theor,
such a hope found ample warrant
The human body furnishes the only
soil, SO far as known, on which the
germs of this disease can multiply and
retain their virulence. Vaccination
renders the body no longer habitable
for these germs. If therefore the en-
tire race could be given immunity
through vaccination, time being al
lowed for the destruction of such un
productive germs as had found tenn
porary lodgment elsewhere 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 ex-
pect the reappearance of the great
aux, the mammoth, or the glyptodon.
In theory such an achievement might
require but a month or a year, but in
reality century has not accomplished
it.
The chief reason why vaccination
has failed of this ultimate ideal
achievement paradoxical though
it sounds because vaccination has
operated so efficiently. So nearly
has it banished small pox that no one
now fears that disease, and general
carelessness prevails regarding it. No
better commentary in this regard
could be made than mention of the
fact that two physicians recently con-
tracted the disease in New York from
a case which came to a dispensary
where they were in attendance. If
physicians fail to give themselves i'm
munity, what shall we expect of the
public at large?
The other chief factor which CO.
operates with carelessness 10 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" 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 dis
ease. Our laws offer protection to all,
but force 1t upon no one. Abroad, in
many places vaccination is compulsory,
a fine being imposed ii any child is
found unvaccinated at certain age.
The result thus aimed at Is accom-.
pllshed in this country in more pleas.
ant way by prohibiting unvaccinated
children from attendance upon rhe
public schools. This measure, to
gether with the constant solicitations
of health officers, results in the vacci-
nation of a 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 susceptible. Revacci-
nation must be practised when the
child is SIX or seven years old, and
again during adolescence. Even this
third vaccination does not always give
protection throughout life. Immunity
should be tested every few years by
repeated vaccinations, and only per
sons who have submitted to this test
within a few years past can at any
time feel fully assured that they are
insusceptible to smallpox. Ignorance
OF this fact is most potent in giving
small pox hold upon the community.
Not alone the ignorant, but many peo-
pie of intelligence suppose that so
long as the scar of previous vaccina.
ton appears they are immune, and
with confidence born of this delusion-
al belief, go about the world almost
ac cucCeDti HE to emo II nov &c &c thav