The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-22
A STRONG PLEA
FOR VACCINATION.
By DR.. PauIus A. Irving Of the State
Board of Health.
THE LAWS SHOULD BE UPHELD.
The Preservation Of q Nations Health
as Important rs the Promotion of
Its Commerce or the Maintain
ancc of Its Conqucsts.

| no Stdtcf IL mas occurred 10 me that tirne
Is opportuno that some reasons should
20 gwen why vaccination should be gem
eral and, under certain conditions com.
| pulsory. II Is not my purpose no enter
into the origin and history OF VAGINA
| ton, or to discuss the causes. symptoms.
! complications or treatment OF smallpox.
| but simply TO offer p few suggestions on
/ Inc Importance Of vaccination as a pro-
! phylactic remedy against the spread OF
| smallpox, and how it can be used for
! the protection OF tho public from the
ravagcs Of so loathsome a disease. From
| smallpox and love but few rcmain Free
| was a proverb which has been handed
| down from the Middle Ages ON account
| OF the prevalence Of this disease CEN
turtles before vaccination was discovered
Diseases which are conveyed 20 man
| by the lower animals are communicated
not by infection. but by incubation.
Such diseases. conveyed 10 man by the
lower animals cannot subsequently be
communicated FROM man TO man bv in
lection. yet this disease cannot lose its
identity. III man can have this disease
but once by Infection be can have It but
once by lnOcula lion after It's Journey
through the lower animals"
Naccinia, which is the disease produced
I'm the COW by incubation, U.s. not catch
ing, hence there Is comparatively little
risk In vaccination.
Just century ago Jennor published
his discovery 10 the world, ami small
pox has lost most OF its terrors and
dreat TO mankind
Against ignorance and superstition.
against dulncss and prejudice against
conservatism and unreasoning tradition
the practice OF vaccination has spread,
q rr.f. ..f. .frr
lied world TO the vast benefit of man.
kind" It Is authorized, endorsed, prac-
ticed I'm every country on the globe and
has done more 20 lessen mortality than
any known discovery up 10 the present
time. Statistics demonstrate the use
fulncss and benefit to the human race OF
vaccination. Where 70 Is properly and
generally used. the mortality from small
poX has been reduced TO a minimum,
and whore vaccination Is made C0mpul-
sorry and enforced, smaiLfox can be
rooted ont and absolutely controlled.
Tho physicians in every country of the
civilized world advocate and practice
vaccination. The governments Of nearly
all civilized nations favor &c and many
OF them make II compulsory Il is COM
pulsory in every standing army and
navy department OF the world. If they
DO not believe and know 1t was so sure
a prevention It would not be so gen.
orally used Every person who is incar-
cerated in n prison or house of correction
is vaccinated on entrance. and why?
Because this precaution is known 10 be
an almost absolute protection, and those
I'm charge knowing and apreciating the
value OF this protection are not willing
10 face public opinion and not take ad-
vantage Of so valuable an agent. Yet
An faaf4 a
pie who. I'm their ignorance and super
stidon. do not believe in the efficacy Of
this protection. but who, on the contrary,
denOunce vaccination.
Vaccination with pure. good virus,
properly and efficiently performed viii
give as absolute and complete protec-
ton against smallpox as an attack OK the
disease Jenner says, Vaccination duly
and efficiently performed Will protect the
cOstitution from subsequent attacks or
smallpox as much as the disease itself
will" lie never expected IL would do
more and it will not do less. The irou-
BILE IS. that often IL is 80 imperfectly
done. or pure virus Is not used, that no
protection IS really given. Most anyone
thinks he can perform this operation as
well as a skilled physician This ac-
counts for so many failures 10 give the
ton may involve consequences more Sc
we're and dangerous than a surgical ope- |
ration. When this Is 10 be done we seek |
the most skilled surgeon while anyone |
IS thought capable OF performing yacci-
nation. No care IS used IN selecting q
clean knife or instrument. or pure. |
good virus.
Vaccination IS the only reliable and !
safe means Of controlling smallpox. and /
should be made compulsory. Writing |
against It and advising against IL through
The medical press is not alone sufficient
Tor this only reaches n certain class who
already know and appreciate It's impor-
lance: but every State ought TO have
mandatory and compulsory laws on this
subject. and some legally-appointed agent
by whom these laws should be enforced.
md II this plan was adopted by each
state I'm few years smallpox could be
stamped out I'm our country. As mild
law, municipalities under
heir charters have q right TO enact laws
making vaccination compulsory. but il J
S never enforced except Jon times Of an
.pidemic when smallpox IS prevailing in
ome neighboring locality or has actu-
lily made its appearance I'm their midst.
raccinati0n is then done under pressure,
Usually hurriedly and impersctly, not
lways bv competent persons or with
good article of virus.
In every city or town. PARTICULARLY
where there is daily communication by
which now traverse almost
very State and section and by which
hey are connected with the outside
-Orld and often with seaports and which |
d turn by maritime commerce with for
ign countries. renders some form OF
revenuon absolutely necessary Vaccl-
alton should be performed annually and
OF deferred as is now the case until the
nemy has invaded a community before
NY steps are taken for its restriction
nd prevention.
Our school law also IS most defective.
says: Persons suffering with con-
igiOus disease shall be excluded from
he public free schools while in that
'ndition. No pupils shall be admitted
Mess they have been vaccinated: pro-
ded. that the operation Of this clause
lncerning vaccination may be suspend
in whole or I'm part by the school
BARD Of any city or county" While
his law. in regard 10 the vaccination of
lildren who attend the public free
.hools. IS enforced In a few OF the
rger cities Of our state yet in most OF
lem ii Is ignored while in the country
is practically a dead letter. and In but I
W cases enforced. In a letter received
me time since from the health officer |
one OF our most thriving towns, he ,
rote me that he had canvassed the
hOol children IN his town, and. out OF '
school attendance Of five hundred and 1
ty. he found that three hundred and z
ty OF these children had never been
lccinated. Does not this show great 1
kitty and carelessness on behalf OF the
aehare and afiofafe pancraffv Man, | ,