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gress, and decline on former occasions. The history of this disease
is fraught with more real importance than can be well imagined or
described—often decimating a people, and in some instances destroying
whole tribes of the human race.—Such has been its
character within even the present century amongst the North
American Indians, and especially with the Hindu races, who until
very lately, held in abhorrence the operation of vaccination. However
under the benign influence of this wonderful discovery, and
its almost universal adoption, year by year the ravages of Small
Pox have diminished. When present, as a rule, it was in a
mild and manageable form, rarely leaving its well known mark upon
the countenance, (not as heretofore destroying often the eyesight
and hearing, rendering its victim in a hopeless, helpless
condition,) and very seldom indeed proving fatal.
I am inclined to believe that the increasing immunity from this
disease, at last gave rise to a feeling of false security, amounting to
indifference. There can be no doubt that the performance of vaccination
has been of late in too many instances neglected. A very
large proportion of the fatal cases occurred in the unvaccinated.
It is true that there have been instances, where death happened in
those who had the well known mark upon the arm, an indication
that vaccination had been successfully performed. These however
were exceptions, yet still of sufficient frequency to exercise a pernicious
influence, by creating doubts as to the protecting power of
vaccination. A question in relation to this most important and
interesting subject has arisen; it is this, —Is it not likely that the
vaccine matter has become deteriorated, by passing through the
systems of successive generations of human beings? I am strongly
of opinion that it has, and I do not hesitate to recommend the
propriety and necessity for the adoption of action, by which a constant
supply of fresh vaccine lymph might be procured from the
cow. I am convinced that were this not difficult plan adopted
generally, we should have very little of the Small Pox for the
future.
A reference to the column, shewing the deaths from Measles,
affords a proof how fatal this disease has been with children. I
again repeat my conviction, that those who die from this malady,
might be saved by proper care, attention and medical treatment in
its early stages. Old prejudices and customs are difficult to overcome.
It is necessary to attack them again and again. Most
surprising and lamentable is it, that on the appearance of a disease
so well known for its frequent fatal consequences, many days are
often suffered to elapse before medical assistance is sought for.