The Penn's Grove record., 1911-01-27
Smallpox Has different types
Vaccination Has Been a Recognized
AntidOte for a Century
A PLAGUE OF ANCIENT TIMES

Smallpox was not known to the Greeks
and Romans, but there is evidence that
it prevailed in China HOO years, B. c.,
according to Encyclopedia B%rittanica. 1t
was introduced from India into Arabia in
the 9th century. It then spread rapidly
to Syria end over Europe. Thence by
trading vessels it was taken to all parts OF
the globe, and became the most widely
spread postilence to which the human
race is subject.
Civilized and savage nations have been
alike prey to its violence. The mortality
has been prodigious. 1t has been estima-
ted that $4,000, 900 have died with it.
Wild tribes OF Africa and America have
been exterminated by it. In England
4 1000 have died in a year with it.
Prussia lost "a, 900 in 1876; Russia, 2,O00,-
900 ON one occasion. Greenland and
Iceland more than once were depopulated
by it.
This was all done by the old-fashion
variola before the discovery of vaccina-
ton.
THE VARIETIES OF SMALLPOX
Numerous varieties of smallpox are
spoken OF by writers. In the first place,
there in the discrete and the continent
forms. In the former the pocks are sep
arate and distant from each other. the
secondary fever is mild OF altogether
wanting. and, except for complication,
the disease is not specially dangerous.
The continent is characterized by a run
ming together of the pocks, and is always
severe and frequently fatal.
Malignant smallpox (black or hemor-
hage smallpox is characterized by the
early occurrence of blood-poisoning result
ing in illusions Of blood into the pocks
and into the substance of the organs and
tissues Of the body, and in hemorrhages
from the mucuons surfaces. 1t may prove
fatal before the eruption has had time
to appear.
Varioloid is smallpox mitigated by pre-
vious vaccination. The initial fever may
be severe, but the eruption is moderate,
many of the pocks shrivel early, and
there is no secondary fever.
These are the types given by most med
ical books and cyclopedias. Another
type called
BENIGN SMALLPOX,
is mentioned by Johnson's Universal
%Cyctopedia. 1t is not mentioned in some
medical books, nor in Encyclopedia
Britannica, Chambers Encyclopedia,
American Encyclopedia, 0 in the Uni
versal Encyclopedia.
"Benign smallpox (%varioIa verrucosa,
or wart-pock) is of occasional occurrence.
1t is exceptionally mild, although the
primary fever may be severe. The pocks
are abortive, and there is no secondary
fever and no pitting.
Smallpox without eruption is of rare
occurrence. The whole process consists OF
the primary fever.
1t is probable that the variety of small
pox is not owing to any different in the
contagion but depends on tile state of the
person to whom it is applied or the cir
cumstances occurring with the application
of it. Robust and healthy persons, in
good hygienic circumstances, are much
more apt to recover than those of the
opposite description.
VACCINATION AN ANTIDoTE
1t was noticed over a hundred years
ago that animals took the smallpox. In
fact, cats and dogs are the worst propaga-
tors of it. Cows have contracted if from
persons. 1t was learned that the Glou-
cester-shire peasants, in England, who ac-
cidentally caught the smallpox from COWS
did not have the regular smallpox, or if
they did, they had it lightly. The idea
was then conceived that if persons were
inoculated with the cowpox it was a pre-
ventiye or smallpox.
DR.. Edward Jenner, at Berkeley, Eng
land first conceived the idea of vaccina-
ton in ITO. lie made the first success
full vaccination and In 1898 he announced
his discovery. He was almost universally
denounced by physicians and the clergy.
The Importance OF his discovery was fin
ally conceded and lie received $185, 900
from Parliament. Vaccination was soon
introduced into Europe ard America and
for a hundred years it has been consider
ed a preventive OF smallpox or to reduce
the malignity of the disease.
The deaths from smallpox in different
epidemics range from 10 to so per cent.
The control by vaccination is shown by
the fact that this dread disease caused Sc
deaths to 1000 in England from 1850 to
1900. From 1900 to 1850 the rate was 80
in 1000. In Germany the deaths were
66.5 in 1000. After vaccination it was
only 1926 and the average is 5.24.