The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-29
AN EXPERT ON SMALL POX.
He Urges the Importance of Vacci.
nation and Points Out Danger in
DaIav.
From The State


pox In various parts of Maryland and having
read good deal about the disease since, feel
1T my duty to say few words on the subject
and thereby warn the public Of the horrible
nature and consequences of this dreadful
malady.
1t is needless to go into the ancient history
aud probable origin OF the small poX, as suff1.
cient has already been written on that point.
1t is sufficient TO say that 1t has slain Its thou
sands in all points OF the world, and until a
com paratively recent period has been the
most loathsome and fatal Of pestilences. DR..
every year from 1t in Europe before Jenner's
time; $1,000 annually in Great Britain and
Ireland alone. A serious Epidemic occurred
In Montreal In 1885, when over 5000 persons
died Of the disease within a period Of nine
months.
Inoculation was first practiced by Lady
Mary Wortiey Montague in Ills, who had
seen 1t perform ed and witnessed its benefl:
cence In Constantinople, whittier ii had come
from further east. DR.. Boyleston OF Boston
practiced 1t in this country in l721.
But since the success OF Jenners discovery
generally adopted, Small pox has become a
com paratively rare affection. No disease Is
more contagious or remains for so long q
time. 1t may be conveyed through the at
mosphere, or by fomites, or by direct inocula-
tion. The former Is far more common, as
when the puctuler form scabs they dry and
scale off upon the floor or clothing, whence
tney get INTO the atmosphere IN Lne lOrn oI
dust and are waited by the winds; or are con-
veyed by clothing for hundreds of miles as
has actually happened.
According to Marson, and his experience is
founded on 70 years service In the small pox.
hospitals. London, the period OF incubation
Is IL days; IL Is especially contagious about
the time OF maturation or maturity of the
pustules. But 1t Is certainly contagious at
any time during the disease, from the first
sign of its invasion to the dropping off Of the
last Scab.
Small pox is not only dangerous in the i'm
mediate attack. but In the deplorable conse-
quences that may follow, and thereby delay
recovery or produce death, The formation OF
large assesses that are long In healing are
common. Erysipelas is not uncommon, and
hyaemia or gangrene sometimes follow.
Even blindness may follow, where pustules
have formed on the copjunctiva producing
optettealmia and consequent liberation and
perforation of the cornea. Even If none OF
the above mentioned horrible possibilities
follow, the eruption nearly always leads to
indelible cicatrices and the patient RECEIVERS
pitted aud SCARED, a repulsiVe object Ia him
self and those around him.
AS to vaccination, Is It useless to 60 further
Into its history than to say that its practice
has been adopted throughout the civilized
world.
Jenners claim was that ut is as protective
against subsequent attacks OF small p0x, as
an attack OF small pox itself is, and neither
more nor less So" Experience has fully veri-
fed this claim. Although thorough vaccina-
tion gives absolute protection In most cases
for life, statistics show that In some cases the
protective Influence diminishes In the course
of years.
The following statistics taken from the
small pox hospital In the service Mr.. Marson
during 20 years prove these statements.
Patients admitted with small pox:
Numhnr Mortality