Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-02-07
VACCINATION AND SMALLPOX.
Observations Gathered From the Exper-
fences of the Past.

Observations Gathered From the Exper-
fences of the Past.
Harpers Bazaar: If the truth were
known it would probably appear that
vaccination has not ACCOMPLISHED all
that Jenner hoped for it. Seeing his
discovery SO universally accepted 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 unim-
aglnatlve had he not dreamed of day
when vaccination should so fully have
trlumphed as to have baniShed small
poX from the world forever In theory
such 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 habita BILE
for these germs. If, therefore. the en-
tire race could be given immunity
through vaccination, time being allowed
for the destruction of such unproduc-
tive germs as had found temporary
lodgment elsewhere than in the BODY.
smallpox would cease to exist. It's
last germ killed, there is no more rea-
son to suppose that it would ever origi-
nate again, than there is to expect
the temperance of the great aux, the
mammoth or the glyptodon. In theory
such an achievement might require
but month or a year, but in reality a
century has not accomplished it.
The chief reason why vaccination
has failed of this ultimate ideal
achievement -paradoxical though il
soundS-because vaccination has
operated SO efficiently. SO nearly has
1t banished smallpox that no one now
fears that disease, and a general care
Iessness now prevails regarding it.
No better commentary in this regard
could be made than mention
Of the fact that two physi-
clans recently contracted the disease
in New York from case which came
to dispensary where they We're in
attendance. 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 existence is ignoraece
So little is smallpox heard of now
that many among the more
ignorant classes scarcely know
the meaning CT vaccination
Health officers find many persons who
suppose they are being vaccinated to
cleanse the blood" 1t does not mat
ter 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 com
pulsory, fine being imposed if
But vaccination in infancy is not
enough. 1t gives immunity for time.
but with growth the tissues change
and after few years the body be
comes again susceptible. Re-vaccina-
ton must be practiced when the child
is or years old, and again during
adolescence. Even this third vaccina-
ton does not always give protection
throughout life. Immunity should be
tested every few years by repeated
vaccinations, and only persons who
have submitted to this test within
lew years past can at
any time feel fully assured
that they are insusceptible to small
pox. Ignorance of this fact is most
potent in giving smallpox a hold upon
the community. Not alone the ignor-
ant. but many people of intelligence
suppose that so long as the scar of
a previous vaccination appears they
are immune. and with confidence born
of this delus. onal belief, go about the
world almost as susceptible to small
poX as II they had never been vaccin-
ated. For such persons chiefly the
present words with their obvious
moral are intended