The Bessemer indicator., 1894-06-09
vAcc,nAriom AND SMALLPOX.
rsase.s why yse.srs frsvsativs nas
Partially Xailed.

VACCINATION AND sMALLPox.
x.aso,s why Jss.srs Frsveativs nas
Partially Failed.
II the truth were known II would
probably appear that vaccination hes
not accomplished all that Jenner
hoped for It Seeing his discovery
so universally accepted at the outset
seeing It nip epidemics Of small-po1
in tho bud. and SO vastly reduce the
mortality within . few years. he
would have been strangely unimsg-
inative had he not dreamed Of day
when vaccination should so fully
have trlumphed as to have banished
smallpox from the world forever
In theory such hopo found ample
warrant The human body furnishes
tho only soil. so far as known. op
which the germs OF this disease cas-
multiply and retain their virulenco.
Vaccination renders tho body no
longer habitable for those germs II
therefore the entire raco could ls
given immunity through vaccination.
time being allowed for the destruo-
tion OF such unproductive germs a.
where than in tho body, smallpox
would cease to exist Its last germ
killed, there is no more reason to
suppose that 1t would ever originate
again. than there is to expect the
reappearance OF the great aux. the
mammoth, or tho glyptodon. In
theory such IN achievement might
require but month or year, but 10
reality century has not accom-
plished It
The chief reason why vaccination
has failed OF this ultimate ideal
achievement is-paradoxical though
1t sounds-because vaccination has
operated SO efficiently. says Harper's
Weekly. So nearly has 1t banished
smallpox that no ono fears that dis
ease, and q general carelessness pre-
walls regarding it. No better com
mentary in this regard could bo
made than mention OF the fact that
two physicians recently contracted
the disease in Now York from case
which came to a dispensary where
they were In attendance. II physi-
clans fail to give themselves immun-
ity, what shall we expect OF the pub
lio at largo
Tho other chief factor which CO.
operates with carelessness to keep
smallpox in existence is Ignorance
So little is smallpox hoard OF now
that many among the moro ignorant
classes scarcely know the meaning
OF vaccination. Health officers
may find many persons who sup
poso they are being vaccinated to
"oleanse the blood" 1t does not
matter much what they think, per-
haps. so long as thoy submit to tho
operation. But many decline the
boon. and these Of course remain
susceptible to tho disease. Our laws
offer protection to all, but force 1t
upon no one. Abroad, in many places
vaccination is compulsory. fine be-
ing imposed II any child is found un-
vaccinated at a certain ago. The ro-
suit thus aimed at Is accomplished
In this country In moro pleasant
way by prohibiting unvaccinated
children from attendance upon the
public schools This measure. to-
gether with tho constant solicita-
tions OF health officers. results In
tho vaccination OF very large pro-
portion 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. Re-
vaccination must be practiced when
the child is six or seven years old.
and again during adolescence. Even
this third vaccination does not
always givo protection throughout
life. Immunity should be tested
every few years by repeated vacoina-
tions. and only persons who have
submitted to this test within few
years past can at any timc feel fully
assured that they are insusceptible
to smallpox. Ignorance OF this fact
is most potent In giving smallpox q
hold upon the community. Not alone
the ignorant. but many people OF In
telligence suppose that SO long as tho
scar OF previous vaccination ap.
pears they are immune, and with
confidence born OF this delusional
belief, go about the world almost as
susceptible to smallpox as II thoy
had never been vaccinated. For such
persons chiefly the present words.
with their obvious moral are intended.