Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-15
By request.
AN IMPORTANT MATTER.
Reasons why Persons Should be Revac'
cinated.

|
| cinated.
To the Editor Of the News:
| Believing that more systematic and radical
means and unanimity of action are urgently
demanded to deliver our city from the dan
ger that now threatens US and restore right
fully, confidence in assurances of safety, L
most earnestly urge the adoption of the only
sure and effectual means of making the
| spread of this dread scourge in our midst an
utter impossiblity. [ advocate no new or I'M
| tried remedy, but one that has stood every
test and, of necessity, when faithfully ap-
piled, can give but one result | refer to gen.
eral revaccnation.
In my practice have been urging revac-
cinatIon and as far as possible revaccinating
| ALL Except those in whom, from various
causes, | feared disastrous consequeHces) even
| though they were yaccinated last year and
| had typical or so called good scars. My rea-
sons briefly
| 1st. The undoubted existence of smallpox
| in our city.
| End. The inefficient character of the quar-
antine, as it of necessity must be under SINH
| lar circumstances
| 3rd. The steady progress from day to day in
| the disease and the reasonable expectation of
| its increase.
4th. That so many of the people seem
because taught to believe that the possession
of a vaccination scar is proof of their securi-
ty.
5th. That the scar is worthless as evidence
of present immunity or protection of the in
dividual, and is nothing more than positive
sign that vaccination has been done.
9th. That exposure to the contagion and re-
vaccination are the only tests of immunity
though neither is infallible Second attacks
of smallpox occasionally take place and soma
may have yarioloid after reyaccination, yet
these tests are the only ones now known.
In of fho nfv,nc of q mr.
ton advanced in this communication, permit
me to quote the opinions of some of the best
authorities on these questions in the old and
new world.
Abbott says, it has been demonstrated that
the physical character or condition of the
ccatrix or scar does not furnish evidence
whether the individual is or is not protected
that the great standing armies of Europe Of
fered conclusive evidence of the necessity and
efficacy of revacclnation-that the statistics
of almost any epidemic of smallpox will do
the same-that most of the European Gov
ernments have made it cOmpulsory-that
from statistics carefully collated it is plain
that in every community certain proportion
will take smallpox if they rely merely upon
the protection afforded by single vaccina-
ton. GerStacker says revaccinatiOn forms
an essential part of the measures of proven
ton against smallpox, and that its hygienic
relation extends not only to the individual,
but to society, the relative immunity of which
is warranted only by the immunity of the
individual.
Seaton gives as the purposes of revaccina-
tom
list. To repair whatever was irregular in the
primary vaccination.
End. To supply what was imperfect in cases
in which the course of the previous vaccina-
ton was regular.
3rd. To extinguish the susceptibility to
smallpox which may remain or re-arise in
persons whose previous vaccinations may
have been complete as well as regular.
In Keating's Cyclopedia of diseases of chill
dren we find the following
There car be no harm, on the contrary,
there may be much good in revaccinating
with every near approach of smallpox"
My own experience has convinced me that
the typical vaccination scar is a deluson and
a snare-a very large part of my revacclnation
attestlng the worthlessness of good scars"
My conviction is that the only hope of avert
ing most fearful scourging is in the thor
ough performance of revaccination upon
every man, woman and child in the city and
vicinity. Let me commend to all sentence
from Simons paper on this subject: 1T is
very easy to be bold against an absent danger
to despise the antidote while one has no pain
full experience of the bane."
l do not wish to be regarded as an alarmist,
but do, in Justice to those who look to me for
protection as their medical adviser, and in the
discharge of the responsible duties imposed by
my vocation, earnestly urge the duOptlon VI
this generally recognized. simple and surely
effective means of deliverance from the fear
full calamity which so imminently menaces rs.
In conclusion, let US see how this simple means
can accomplish this most desirable end
The period of incubation of smallpox is
from to IA days. That of cowpox from to
days. Hence we see how easily by thor
ough vaccination and revaccinat1on of all the
inhabitants of town or country we could
exhaust or eXtinguish every susceptibility to
smallpox and thus bring safety and immuni-
ty to the city or country in from 20 to 80
days. even if an epidemic were prevailing.
HY NJ PATTERSON, M. d.