The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-02-04
Prevention
Of Smallpox

Most Of the triumphs in the pre-
vention of disease have come about
as the direct result of the discoveries
Of Pasteur and the establishment of
what is known as the germ theory Of
disease. However, before the time of
Pasteur one most notable advance was
made, namely: the discovery of vac
cination by DR.. Edward Jenner, in
1898. Previous to that time about one
person in every ten died of smallpox.
In England, one person in every three
showed peck marks on the afce. When
it was carried to a new country the
death rate was something frightful,
as for example, in Mexico, where g.
100000 of the natives died of the di-
sease after its introduction by the
Spanish.
For many years in England it had
been observed that cows suffer from
an eruption located about the udder
and TANKS, and that mixers were like
ly to become infected with the mater
ial from this eruption. DR.. Jenner OBJ
served that those who had suffered
from this infection did not contract
smallpox, which almost everybody
had at that time. He began to ex-
pertinent by injecting people and then
watching their subsequent history,
and confirmed his observation abso-
lutely that an attack of this disease
which is known as vaccinia protected
against a subsequent attack of small
pox. The germ or virus had become
attenuated or weakened in its viru-
lence. 1t is now known that vaccinia
as seen in the COW is a modified form
of smallpox. If we transfer some of
the matter from the smallpox pus-
tules on a human being to a calf, we
do not produce small pox but only the
mild disease known as vaccinia. When
we again transfer this matter from the
calf to the human being, it does not
regain its virulence, but produces the
mild form of the disease, though it
has the power of protecting against
the severe disease, smallpox, because
protective substances are formed by
the cells of the body in response to
the attack of the weakened germ
just as they are in true smallpox, and
without danger.
During the Eighteenth Century
there were 10000 deaths year from
smallpox in Germany. From 1876
to 1870, twenty-five persons out OF
every 100000 died of the disease in
that country. In 1871 and 1872, ow-
ing to the Franco-P russian war, the
disease became prevalent, causing the
death of 243 and 262 persons respect.
lively in every 100000. In 1874 vac.
cination was made compulsory, anC
Immediately marked falling off ir
the disease was noticed. From 1874
to 1886 1.57 died in every 100000, and
in the year 1910, there were only 80
deaths from smallpox in the entire
empire of Germany with a population
of over 100000, and fifteen OF
these were foreigners. If the old rate
had kept up, 100000 persons year
would have lost their lives from this
disease. Surely no stronger proof
of the value of vaccination could be
given.
How long does this protection last !?
In some persons it lasts for life, but
the average person should be vaccin-
ated whenever exposed. If they are
still protected by the former vacci-
nation, it does not result in any pain
or inconvenience. At best this is on
ly temporary and is amply paid Off by
the protection from the loathsome
and deadly disease known as small
pox. In addition to preventing the
disease, vaccination has rendered it
much milder and it is not nearly so
severe in those who have been vacci-
mated, even when it does not protect
entirely. For example: During the
bad years in Germany, 187l-72, it
was found that of those persons who
had been vaccinated more than once,
only five out of every 100 of those
who contracted the disease died. Of
those who had been vaccinated only
once, Ia out of every 100 died, while
among those who had not been vacci-
mated at all, the death rate reached
45 in every 100.