The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-25
FROM LECTURE ON VACCINE SYPHr-
LIS, BY PROF. M. FoURNIER.

LIS, BY PROF. M. FoURNIER.
Anywhere else but in this amphithea-
ire L would keep myself from touching
such a subject, for all the discussions
which we shall raise are assuredly of a
nature TO do disservice 10 vaccination by
the trouble, by the alarm which they may
spread among the public, and you know
besides that. on the contrary, the duty of
the medical man Is TO use all his efforts
to extend, to popularize vaccination for
Its inestimable benefits; to combat all the
prepossessions, all the prejudices which
may do IL harm TO remove all the appre-
tensions capable of retarding is prog
ress. But here the composition. the
audience which honors me with its atten-
tion Is of q nature to dissipate my scru-
Piles in this respect. 1t Is that in fact
am speaking to pupils who will soon be
our colleagues, and have no reason to
i'll uuserstood or perverted" Then the
next paragraph Is on p. q, the subject Is
The Rarity of Vaccine Syphilis us
Vaccinal Syphilis quite authenticated?
is 1t absolutely demonstrated in spite OF
all the denials which have been opposed
to it? Is 1t, In word definitely estab-
lished that o sound subject may receive
syphilis by the Intermediary of vaccine
lymph taken from syphlitic source?
Yes, u hundred times, yes"
From that which precedes. 1t results
In the nrst instance, and quite clearly,
that in q general way real and serious
danger is contained In vaccination. But,
that danger, surely, is quite of nature
to evoke our solicitude for q number OF
reasons. For; /. Every individual is
destined to undergo, one or several times
in his life, the vaccine incubation. The
danger then of vaccnal syphilis IL EN-
countered by all the world once or sew
eral times in the course OF existence. 2.
The excessive and ever increasing dlffu-
sion of syphilis In modern societies will
only increase numerically the risks of
that danger. 3. The syphilis which at
tacks subjects quite young (that Is to say,
which invades the organism ut the usual
age at which vaccination Is practised) Is
particularly grave, every one knows IL,
and grave To the extent OF terminating
il in fatal manner on many occasions"
There are certainly many more cases
of vaccinal syphilis on the cards or in the
memories OF practitioners than in the
columns OF our journals. For myself,
had up to this day published n single
one OF the numerous cases of this kind
which L have observed, whether i'm my
private practice or in hospital? But how
many. of my colleagues might say as
mucy There is more. The same reti-
cence must have concealed important
cases. For myself alone had knowledge
of two actual epidemics OF vaccinal
syphilis, which have been kept secret,
and upon which have been able 10 OBJ
tain only incomplete information, the
affair having been hushed up"
ION December 30th, 1880, the young
soldiers Of the garrison of Algiers who
had not already been vaccinated were
conducted To the Dey Hospital to be
vaccinated in accordance with the mill
tary regulations. Two army surgeons
operated. The vaccine matter was ex-
tracted from a couple OF children under
two months old, apparently in excel
lent health, and In whom the lymph
appeared TO be equally genuine and nor
NAL. Those vaccinated from one OF the
children presented no special incident,
but the fifty.eight soldiers vaccinated
from the Spanish infant developed In
few weeks the characteristics of an in
fection which could not be mistaken; all
were attacked with syphilis. The marks
on the arm were disquieting and the
ulcerations were so threatening that tho
soldiers were some ten weeks after the OPP
GRAFTON, sent 10 the hospital. In amonth
all except six were dismissed, but they
were soon compelled to return, syphilis
had affected their constitution. Some
had ulcers for four or FIVE months; one
had not recovered In the eighth month;
or palate. Ssme showed discolouration
of the skin, some had violent headache;
affections of the teeth and gums and Of
the joints presented themselves 10 my
observation, In addition to the usual
symptoms Of this dangerous aud dis
gusting malaay. also noticed decay OF
the hair, eyebrows, and lashes. Need 1t
surprise Us that soldiers thus treated by
State medical regulations fail TO prove
that they are equal to dozen OF their
vigorous Arab foes, the redoubtable
Bow AmemaY
Then follow the names and regi-
mental numbers OF the unfortunate sol
diers who have been obliged To leave the
service without appeal or compensation.
Also that William Tebb gave evidence
before the Royal Commission which was
admitted rs true 10 knowing OF over
5000 cases OF great Injury and 800 deaths
by vaccination.