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regarded as an indication of insusceptibility unless of the most
transient nature. Where re-vaccination is not successful, this
may be due on the one hand to insusceptibility produced by the
previous vaccination, or, on the other hand, to impotency of the
operation caused by the imperfection of the lymph used or by
want of skill on the part of the operator. Where re-vaccination,
unsuccessful at the first attempt, is successful when the operation
is repeated after a short interval, there is strong reason for
thinking that the want of success was due to the latter and not
to the former cause.
If a re-vaccination is unsuccessful it ought not from that fact
to be taken for granted that immunity is certain, but the operation
should be repeated once or even twice, as in the case of failure of
primary vaccination in infants.
In London Dr. Luff reported the number of attacks of revaccinated
persons to have been 108, with four deaths, showing a
fatality of 3.7. The fatality shown amongst vaccinated persons
above the age of 10 in the same epidemic was 4.2. The fatality
amongst the unvaccinated of a similar age was 20.9.
The character of the disease in the re-vaccinated class was
reported to be mild in 101 cases and severe in seven.
Dr. Gayton gives the following facts as regards Small-Pox
among the hospital staff at the Homerton Small-Pox Hospital.
From 1 st February, 1871, the date when the hospital opened for
the reception of patients, to the end of 1877, 366 persons had
been employed in the hospital. All of these were re-vaccinated
on commencing duty, with the exception of an assistant nurse,
who was not brought under Dr. Gayton's notice for some reason
until after she had been in the wards. This woman in a fortnight
was down with the Small-Pox, and passed through a severe
attack, but recovered. Dr. Gayton was unable to give the exact
number employed in the years subsequent to 1877, but he thought
it might be fairly estimated that an equal number were engaged