The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-04
SMALLPOX TALK.
City Physician Peers Says Vac
cinatiOn Does Not Prevent.

City Physician T. w. Peers, at the
afternoon session of the Kansas Medi-
cal society today dealt a hard blow
to TIE popular belief that vaccination
is a certain preventive of smallpox
The subject of DR.. Peers paper was
Modern Vaccination" and the state
1nents made were based on his expert
ences during the recent smallpox cpl
denlc in this city.
DR.. Peers took as his text the express
sion of a celebrated medic, If vaccine
scas the only discovery of the epoch 1t
would serve to render it illustrious for
ever" and in part aid
The, above sentiment prevails over
the whole of the civilized world, and is
believed by all persons who are con-
veIsant with the facts and who can
weigh evidence. 1t is not my purpose to
assan the wisdom of this belief, but it
IS my purpose, however, to correct GER
tain erroneous views concerning vacc1-
nation.
"A former city physician of this city.
who had charge Of an epidemic of
smallpox. tells me that he was unable
to see the slightest benefit from vacei-
nation. My experience, in the early
days Of the present epidemic, was sim
liar. 1t eemed to me that quite as
many who had been previously vacci-
mated came down with the disease and
had 1t just as severely. In one family
of eight persons, our had been vacci-
mated and four not, a those who had
been vaccinated had it decidedly harder
than those not Vaccinated. In another
family of five persons, not one of whom
lad been Vaccinated, only one was Sc
verely sick, the others having 1t very
light, and about a month after their re-
c0very 1 vaccinated them all, and every
one took normally.
Vaccination has done so much for
us and statistics are so Overwhelming
in its favor, that we are apt to eX-
pect 700 much, and it is to this point
49, 1-arAA 20 coll HnEkHnnTNn - attain
tion. Many persons, and some doctors,
expect vaccination to produce immun-
ity in almost every case n to Modify
materially the few cases that are not
immune. I certainly a that impress
sion. and was greatly disappointed in
seeing case after cas- come down after
vaccination. and have the disease al
most as severely as others who mad
never beer. vaccinated-
"A few facts in regard to the SuDJecI
will show not only the difficulty in ar
Tiving at a roper conclusion, but also
the factors entering into the problem
"First-One vaccination does not in
many cases. produce immunity.
"Second-Some persons who have
been successfully v~accinated die OF
smallpox.
"~Third-Persons who have had small
pox have been known to again take the
disease. Even a third attack has been
noted several times.
"Fourth-Some are immunes without
vaccination.
"Fifth-The diseaseismo s variable as
to severity both in the vaccinated and
unvaccinated.
Now then, suppose I vaccinate q
patient and get a normal result anc
500 after he has smallpox, and it runs
a very mild course. How can 1 tel
whether his was from vaccination OF
because he Is not very susceptible?
Again, suppose I vaccinate two per
sons who are badly marked from small
poX, which had occurred several years
previously. uppOS L get a norma
vaccine sore and several weeks there
after they take the smallpox and die
Shall i a vaccine is worthless?
"Wha shall we say in regard to :
family of five persons who were vacci
mated successfully only a few weeks at.
ter having had smallpox?
These questions are not idle ones bu
are based upon actual cases and repre-,
sent the difficulties in arriving at
conclusion from personal experience.
1T has been my fortune to see be
tween 20 and 80 persons come dow
with smallpox this year who had pre-
vious attacks. 1 have also seen score
come down who had been previousl,
vaccinated. 1 can not keep back tn
question, why is this. and what is i
that produces immunity in SOM
cases2'
DR.. Peers paper was one of the las
of the session. The meeting will form
ally close this evening and tonight Their
win be a banquet at the National hote.
The officers for the ensuing year wer
lected today as follows:
President. w. Porter. Pfttsburp
First vice PRESIDENT. p. Lewis, To
peka.
Second vice president-C. P. Shafel
Morrill,.
Corresponding s~ecretary-J. w. MAY
Kansas City, Kan.
Treasurer H. Mum, Topeka
Librarians. c. Stewart, Topeka.
Chairman judiciary committee-G. 4
Ball, Lewisburg.