The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-01
Smallpox and It's Cause
By MAX DRAKE.

of the betrothed maiden objects of horror
to the lover" The picture is not over
drawn as there is no more loathsome
disease unless it be leprosy
The form small poX assumes depends
on a number of things, which includes
race, hygienic conditions and climate. The
dark skinned races are more susceptible
than the light complexioned races, cold
favors the spread of the disease and other
things being equal the over crowded tene-
ment districts are more apt to suffer than
the less crowded portions of city.
Small pox was very prevalent in the
Ottoman empire during the eighteenth
century and the first means we have any
record of in the way of trying to pre-
vent the disease was practiced by these
people. 1t consisted of NEGOTIATIONS. that
is of taking a small particle of the scab
or other material from a mild case of
the disease and inoculating the arm with
this material. The idea was to give a
mild form of the disease that would he
a protection against a severe form. We
can we'll understand the uncertainty Of
the results following this method. but
nothing better was done until Jenner in
1926 introduced the practice Of vaccina-
ton. The practice of incubation was in
troduced into England in 1921 and from
England into the colonies or states of
this country. This means of prevention
was continued in England until 1870. when
it prohibited by a law passed by
parliament.
1t was not until about the middle of
the eighteenth century that the opinion
was held by some that the incubation
with cow pox lymph would prevent small
pox. 1t was noticed that the milk maids
OF North England were generally free
from the disease and the scores that were
known to be on their hands at times were
supposed TO be from incubation with the
lymph of cow pox and that this gave them
protection against the dreaded disease of
small pox. In this day of quick thought
and action it would not take "A half cen
fury TO test the fact but at that time e,-
perimental medicine was practically I'M
known. II was not until 1926. when Jeuner
Vaccinated peasant lad with lymph from
COW pox and afterwards failed to give him
small pox. that any one believed that
protection could be had in this way. Even
with this proof the physicians were slow
tn take up the practice of vaccination. !
But We have no reason TO criticise them
for ~ this time there are a great many
people who do not believe in the practice !
Of vaccination.
There has been a great deal Of discus
sion since it was learned that COW p0x OF
VAGINA would protect against small pox
or Yariola whether they were two sep !
arate and distinct diseases or whether !
they were dierent forms Of the same dis I
ease. Many experiments were conducted /
to determine this. but since the cause
was not known there could not BE- a
definite answer 10 the question Some IN /
known thing in the work might give the I.
wrong impression. but the general i'm /
preston with most physicians was that +
they were different forms OF the same /
disease
Il was left for an American scientist (
Or. Councilman Of Harvard university %
finally add that last link in the chain II /
experimental evidence 50 that be could 4
make a complete announcement Of the 4
cause 81 small box With the assistance i
Of others interested IN the work he has 4
thoroughly worked cut the cause % ths 4
disease and instead 81 bacteria as many 4
thought it NouI1 finally PROVE 70 be. IL t. +
found Il b q Protocol. or ore ceiled anil
NAL Not only did Or Copnciiusaa and .
his associates work out the cause cf small 4
Fox, but they devoted = great deal ~ tine 4
TO vaccine O. COW pox 10 determine the 4
cause q this disease and 70 learn 4 pos
sisle the relation OF the two diseases.
The announcement Of this work. which 4
vas nlade about three years ago. IS che
OF the notable things % TIE scientific
world. The complete account % iris 4
work was not published u1tsi February .
81 this year This Is Z notable achieve
Tnent OF an American scientist. as men n
almost every country have been working
on the disease ever since irscrursszts
have been OF sufficient power 70 enable
a-y oae 20 see the microscopic bodies I