The Washington times., 1902-02-16
PREVENTION OF SMALLPOX
BY USE OF VACCINE VIRUS

II the child be a male. again when he en-
tered the army. Every male German OF
physical qualifications must serve in the
army. Before the enactment of the law
there were 30T deaths per million OF popu-
lation from smallpox, remarkably small
number. Since that law became effective
there have been seven deaths per million.
In the German army, as in all disci
plined bodies, the vaccination is certain
and effective. There has been no death
from smallpox in the German army since
1874. On the other hand, among the neigh
boring countries where vaccination was
optional. the death rate has been vastly
greater; there were. for example, in the
year 1856, forty eight times as many
deaths from smallpox in Belgium as in
Germany: tifty-four times as many in
Switzerland; eightyone times as many in
Austria, and COZ times many in Hun
gary.
The Disease Easily Prevented
These figures tell their own story.
Smallpox is the most preventable disease
in the category of human Ills Success
full vaccination protects one from small
pox for several years. The protective in
fuence wears out in time varying from
four years to twenty. but may be renewed
by revaccination. The protective influ-
ence of every other acute contagious dis
ease wears out Ii time as well as that CT
vaccina ton.
Measles may be contracted the second
time, although ordinarily one attack fcrti-
fies the system for life against a second
Scarlet fever occasionally occurs more
than once in the same person. Diphtheria
may occur a number of times. the pro-
| tective influence in this disease lasting
but few weeks. Sma llDOX occurs the
second time in many instances. DR.. Mar
son, of London, reported fOrty-seven at
tacks in 6,CG0 cases of smallpox. The
same proportion has been frequently OBJ
served
1t is not safe to rely upon a preceding
attack of smallpox as an assurance that
second may not occur. Never should
one rely upon the vaccination done in
infancy to guard against smallpox during
ME Vaccination in infancy, again at
school age, and again in young manhood
is the safest rule TO follow, with the
further precaution OF vaccination during
any epidemic.
The Present Mild Epidemic
There is now prevailing in this coun-
try mild epidemic of smallpox, which
has came from our island possessions,
where, up to the entrance of the authority
tinually present among the natives. The
unusually intimate intercourse which has
been maintained between this country and
the Philippines during the past three
years, with the frequent exchange of let
tiers, curios, and articles of commerce,
has resulted in the disease securing a
foothold here.
Owing to the practical disappearance
of smallpox from the observed diseases
until the present epidemic many persons
have been unvaccinated, thinking that oc-
casion for vaccination does not exist.
Vaccination should be as necessary in
childhood as ones name.
The unvaccinated persons are the real
danger to the community
In an English epidemic some years ago
the statistics showed that out OF every
1000 of population of those unvaccinated
ninety-four took smallpox, and of these
ninety-four there were fifty-one deaths;
of those vaccinated once nineteen be-
came i'll and one died. OF those vaccinated
more than once but five became sick and
none died.
When the United States took Porto Rico
smallpox was the most common disease
on the islands. Under our administra-
ton 100000 persons were vaccinated on