The Glenwood post., 1910-08-20
SHOULD VACCINATION
BE Col1PuIsoRY

Certain Chinese records show that
smallpox was known in China over
1000 years ago.
In Western medical literature the
first distinct reference to smallpox
comes from the pen Of Galen in the
second century.
In England in the last century. about
one-third Of the people were pock-
marked. The annual mortality from
the disease during the latter half OF
the eighteenth century was about three
thousand to every million inhabitants.
In 1865 to 1869 in Calcutta and Bonn
bay, India, with population of about
40, 100000, 100000 died of smallpox,
and 100000 died from this disease
from 1873 to 1876. Japan, China
Cochin China, Islands of China Sea
and Corea, frequently suffer terrible
loss of life from ravages Of smallpox
In 1920 smallpox was introduced into
Mexico by the Spaniaris. In very
short time over 100000 of the ma
tives succumbed to the disease. An
outbreak of the disease depends o.
two factors:
First-Individuals susceptible to ths
disease.
Second-An introduction into the
body in some manner of the virus caus
ing the disease.
The first factor is present in prac-
tically all of the unvaccinated; and
the presence of case of smallpox
provides the second factor.
The very great importance of pro-
venting or restricting so universal and
fatal pestilence is apparent. The
only preventive that can be universally
applied is vaccination.
In 1896 DR.. Jenner made his first
vaccination. Six weeks later this pa
tient was inoculated with the virus
of smallpox, but it failed to take ef.
feet.
DIR. Benjamin Waterhouse of Boston
was probably the first to perform vac
cination in this country.
Previous to vaccination the mortalitv
per year from smallpox in England was
5000 to each million of inhabitants,
After the introduction of vaccination.
Englani's mortality was reduced to 3lO
per million OF the statistical ev,-
dence given perhaps none is more re-
markable than that furnished by Drs.
Seaton and Buchanan of England. Tn
1868, when London was suffering from
an epidemic Of smallpox, they exam
ined over $4,000 school children. they
found among every thousand without
evidences of vaccination, $50 with
scars of smallpox. And of every thou
sand with evidences of vaccination
only two with scars of smallpox. 1t
might be said that compulsory vaccina
tion is against personal liberty. Ones
rights should cease where another's
right begins. ''The greatest good to
the greatest number" should be sought.
One should be willing to make this
slight personal sacrifice for the public
good. Physicians who argue for vac
eination are pleading for humanity and
not for personal gain. Vaccination is
measure in preventive medicine, AMI
measures which prevent disease do
not add to the physician bank ac-
count.
1t should be among the functions of
the boards of health to provide and
control the supply of vaccine virus.
This has been provided for by statute
in several states.
In order to make the condition ideal
and provide for the entire abolition of
smallpox. pure virus, cleanliness and
maintenance of complete vaccination
in every individual in the community
are necessary.
Smallpox is a virulently contagious
and infectious disease.
Prior to the discovery of vaccination
smallpox was one Of the great scourges
of the world. 1t remains SO in every
part Of the world which fails, for one
reason or another, to use the pre-
ventive means Of vaccination.