The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-26
Inspection of One Thousand
Cases Proves Efficacy
of the Serum.
GIVES ASSURANCE
TO THE PARENTS
Scores the Alarmists and Their
Periodic Out
breaks"

pie, there were probably not less than
100000 vaccinations during the year
1909. In this same area the deaths dur
ing that period numbered about 75O. 600,
among these deaths those who lost their
lives by vaccination were too few to be
even classified. Unoficially. though
from an authentic source, It was stated
that the actual number OF deaths from
vaccination in the registration area OF
the United States during 1903 wGs only
two.
That vaccination is at all times a
trivial and harmless procedure is not
eontended. To the contrary, despite the
utmost precaution, impure virus at the
time Of incubation and accidental in
lection after not infrequently leads TO
Clsagreeable, and occasionally serious,
experience. Grave accidents must. how
ever, be rare, for out OF the thousands
and thousands Of individuals Vaccinated
in the District no one has yet brought
forward a single case OF permanent dis
ability, much less a death. from this
cause.
Encouragement for Parents.
To the anxious parent, distressed and
hesitant by this crusade against one
, Of the most benefcent discoveries Of
all the ages, all that is necessary TO
formulate a decided opinion is to go to
the schools, TO the l1indergartens, to
the primary class rooms, to The Sunday
schools, or, for that matter. the 1000
young white children that have been
vaccinated within the past ten years,
and if there can be found anywhere on
this earth more healthy, robust, clean
: limbed and cIear-headed specimens Of
! childhood. or II there can be found a
] half dozen children suffering from any
( serious disability due TO vaccination.
the investigator Will feel that the anti
their prejudice
That vaccine virus itself, the serum
/ obtained from healthy calves and COM
municated in its purity 70 the human
subject, IS dangerous, is not only IN
true. but in all probability there has
never been an official recorded death
from pure uncomplicated vaccine
Cowpox, from which vaccinia is de-
rived, has been, so far as we know, a
disease Of the COW ever since that ami
NAL came under the dominion Of man
{ and nowhere IN tradition or history has
there ever been an instance recorded
where cOwpOX pure and simple ever
killed a COW, a calf. man. OF anv Other
/ living creature. To the contrary the
non-tuberculous and otherwise healthy
calf from which all officially tested vac
cine Is obtained, is one OF the cleanest
and untaInted creatures in the worIs
nour1shed by the same food that the
mother gives 10 her b. be and not 70
be mentioned in the same breath WITH
the dog, the cat and other animal nets
. OF human habitations.
What CowpoK Is.
In order that the people should he
( fully enlightened as to Just what COW
poX Is, ! quote the following from
Diseases Of Cattle" (revised edition
Department Of Agriculture, 1909: Al
though this is a contagious disease.
strictly srceting, it is 50 universally
harmless and be nign IN its course that
IL Is roObed 0f tie terms which usually
accompany all spreading diseases, ard
II is allowed TO enter herd Of cattle.
run its course, and disappear without
( exciting any particular notice. .
So harmless is the disease considered
3 that, except in so far as II renders. the
udder, or teat, painful. is seldom OF SUI
I fcient Importance as to cease milking
/ the affected animal. Even the milk is
not interdiCted during. the disease. hut
/ irritation"
As to the prevalence Of the disease.
Z the same authority says: The disease
/ IS quite common in this country, eSpe-
cially In the Eastern States"
: The conta giousness Of the disease and
the liability OF mixers to contract the
: infection is recognized the world over;
l II Is safe 10 say that within the past
twenty years there have been fully a
million cases Of cowpox among the cows
] Of the country. yet who ever heard OF
cOuntryman losing his life on account
/ OF milking a cow