The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1894-06-01
VACCINATION AND sMALLpox.l


VACCINATION AND SMALLPOX
1tsasons why Jcnner's Preventive Has
Partially Failed.
II tho 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 1t nip epidemios Of smallpox
in the bud. aud SO vastly reduce the
mortality within Q few years, no
would have been strangely unimag-,
NATIVE had he not dreamed Of = day
whom vaccination should 30 fully
have triumphed as to have banishea
smallpox 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 cah
multiply and retain their virulence.
Vaccination rendors the body NO
longer habitable for these germs II
therefore the entire race, could 10
given immunity through vaccination.
time being allowed for the destruS.
tlon OF such unproductlve germs a.
had found temporary Judgment elso.
where 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 expect thu
temperance OF the great aux. the
mammoth. or the glyptodon. In
theory such an achievement might
require but month or year, but 10
reality century has not accom-
plishcd 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 one fears that dis
ease. and general carolessness pre-
walls regarding 1t. No better COM
mentary In this regard could DO
made than mention Of the fact that
two physicians recently contracted
the disease in Now York from case
which came to q dispcnsary whore
they were in attendance II physi-
clans fail to give themselves immun-
ity, what shall We expect OF the pub
lie ut large.
The other chief factor which CO.
operates with carelessness to keep
smallpox In existence is Ignorance
So little Is smallpox heard OF now
that many among the moro ignorant
classes scarcely know the meaning
OF vaccination. Health officers
may find many persons who sup
pose they are being vaccinated to
.'cleanso the blood" II does not
matter much what they think. per-
haps. so long rs they submit to tho
operation. But many decline tho
boon. and these OF course remain
susceptible to the disease. Our laws
offer protection to all, but force IL
upon no one. Abroad. in many places
vaccination is compulsory, fine be-
ing imposed II any child is found I'M
vaccinated at certain age. Tho ro-
suit thus aimed ut Is accomplished
In this country In q more 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
the vaccination OF a very largo pro-
portion OF infants.
But vaccination in infancy is not
enough. 1t gives immunity for q
time, bn. with growth the tissues
change, and after q 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 give protection throughout
life. Immunity should be tested
every few years by repeated vaccina-
tions. and only persons who have
submitted 10 this test within few
years past can at any time feel fully
assured that thoy are insusceptible
to smallpox. Ignorance OF this fact
Is most potent in giving smallpox .
hold upon the community. Not alone
the ignorant, but many people Of In
tellisence suppose that SO long as tho
scar OF a previous vaccination ap.
pcars they are immune. and with
confidence born OF this delusionai
beliof. go about tho world almost as
susceptible to smallpox rs II they
had mover been vnccinated. For such
pcrsons chiefly tho present words.
with their obvious moral are intended.