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operator to have put on all the characteristic appearances of the true vaccine
vesicle, as described by Jenner, it may be relied on as a perfect protection through
life, in a large majority of cases, but since there are so many exceptions, and as
it is an undoubted fact that many persons do take small-pox, though the most
efficient vaccination has been accomplished in infancy, the question of re-vaccination
becomes one of serious import to medical men, to whom the public are
just now looking tor advice and direction upon so debateable a point.
" The absolute infallibility of primary vaccination few practical men of the
present day will be found to maintain, any more than they will the uniform
action of the best established remedial agents. Persons of particular habits or
idiosyncrasies there always will be in whom the most careful administration of
well-known drugs will be followed by the most extraordinary and unlooked-for
results, and it is not likely that cow-pock inoculation will be found uniformly
exempt from all departures from its ordinary issues.
" Whenever appealed to by the sceptical or the hesitating as to the desirability
of re-vaccination, my reply is, that as the occasional introduction of genuine
and well-selected vaccine lymph into the arms of young persons and adults is,
with very few exceptions, attended by no other inconvenience than a slight and
bearable irritation, and the most trifling constitutional disturbance, most medical
men are disposed to look upon it as a very simple, but at the same time very
valuable test of the efficiency, or otherwise, of previous vaccinations ; for should
such re-vaccination fail to produce a perfect vesicle, what, I usually ask, can be
more satisfactory than to feel assured that the protection afforded by the operation
in infancy remains, in all probability, unimpaired? On the contrary, should
it result in the production of the perfect vesicle, is it not something to feel more
secure than before against the virulence of the disease, and the fatality so frequently
attending it when occurring in the unprotected ? This kind of reasoning
I generally find suffices to remove the scruples of those of my patients who are
really capable of being reasoned with on such a subject. I am pleased to add
that the authorities of this district are fully alive to the necessity of adopting
measures for the isolation of the poor suffering from small pox, and that suitable
conveyances have been placed at the disposal of the public to secure the easy and
speedy removal of all desiring such isolation."
SICKNESS AND MORTALITY AMONGST THE UNION POOR.
Table IV., Appendix, concisely exhibits both the nature and
amount of sickness which prevailed during the past year amongst
the out-door poor of this parish, as well as its resulting mortality.
Of 450 cases of sickness, accident, &c., that came under treatment,
16 deaths only appear to have resulted, which is a fraction over