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30
The last case of this disease notified being in the year 1905,
and as during the whole of this period the number of unprotected
persons has been gradually increasing, certainly not to any very
large extent in this Borough, but to a much greater extent in some
other portions of London, and as it is now about 7 or 8 years
since the incidence of the last serious outbreak of Small-pox in
London, it is very probable that the time is rapidly drawing nearer
when we should be fully prepared for another outbreak. The
following thoughts respecting protection from vaccination which
have been drawn up and circulated by a leading health authority
may be of use :—
Protection from Vaccination. Clear argument depends
on clear definition. The following points may be a guide as to
the teaching of experience in regard to the protective influence of
vaccination.
(1) A person who has recovered from a disease such as
Small-pox is, as a rule, protected from having the same disease
again.
(2) This protection is very marked immediately upon
recovery, but it fades with time ; thus, after 23 years, second
attacks of Small-pox may occur.
(3) Vaccination, which is Small-pox changed into a mild
disease by its passage through the cow, similarly protects against
Small-pox.
(4) The protection is very marked immediately after vaccination,
but it also fades with time, and, as the disease is milder, its
protection is less; thus, after 10 years, once vaccinated persons
are again liable to contract Small-pox, though they will probably
have it in much milder form than if they had never been
vaccinated.