The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1838-11-06 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

FAILURE OF VACCINATION.  This very serious subject has for some time seriously occupied the attention of the medical profession, and attracted the notice of the public very extensively. An essay or inquiry into the causes of this reputed failure has just now been published by Charles Severn, Esq., M.D., with suggestions relative to the means of ensuring its full protective influence. In this essay the author admits the occurrence extensively of small-pox after vaccination, and also the prevalence of that virulent disease for some time past in this metropolis, both of which circumstances have led many persons to doubt the protective influence of the cow pox altogether; but Mr. Severn combats the latter idea, and maintains that the efficacy of the latter has been amply realised, although its deteriorioration through the bodies of human beings, to which it was not natural, ought to be expected ; but that, he maintains, is no argument against the security afforded by the perfect original virus. The author in admitting that the human constitution is not in every instance permanently defended against the loathsome disease, yet that the vaccine infection will, even under the present imperfect mode of. generating the lymph, prevent the recurience of small-pox in by far the greater majority of constitutions, though not in all; and of the latter, the greater part have the old disorder in a very mild form.  The author quotes from the statistical tables to show the great decrease that has taken place in the mortality occasioned by this pestilent disease at various periods, which proves a very great decrease indeed. For instance, the number of patients admitted into the Small-pox Hospital from 1775 to 18(X) was 7,017, the deaths were 2,277; and Irons the year 1800 to 1825 (subsequent to vaccination) the number admitted was 3,743, the deaths 1,118, not halt the number, although the population of London has nearly doubled within that period ; a clear proof that the danger and fatality of the small-pox have greatly diminished. The probable proportion of failures in protecting the human constitution does not, says Mr. Severn, amount to more than six in 3,000, and that it possesses an advantage of ten to one over the inoculated small-pox, and he justly censures those practitioners who, for a paltry fee, still continue to spread the small-pox pestilence by inoculating for it. The author then properly expresses himself—" Should his patient die, he is undoubtedly guilty, if not in a criminal court, yet in fort) conscientia of the crime of murder." Besides the danger of life, small-pox rouses up scrofula in all its destructive varieties. The author with great propriety supposes the transmission of lymph through thousands of human bodies must weaken its original power of repelling disease; he, therefore, most properly recommends recurrence to the cow frequently, to keep up its original vigour.  A sanguinary duel was fought with broad swords between two members of the New Orleans bar, at Bayou St. Louis, on the 25th ult. The combat was dreadful. One of the parties died of his wounds on the following day, and the survivor had one arm severed from his body. The Right Hon. C. Poulett Thomson, who is now on a visit at ChiHingham Castle, accompanied by the park-keeper, went out on Monday, for the purpose of shooting one of the wild oxen of the breed peculiar to Chillingham Park. This is an undertaking of danger and difficulty, on account of the extreme wildness of the cattle not permitting an approach. Iso avoid agitating the cattle, the ox was cautiously detached from the herd, when the hon. gentleman, by a well-directed aim, despatched the animal by a single shot from 4 rifle.— Newcastle Journal.