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23
From this analysis of the death rate of the unvaccinated
section of the community, it is evident that Small Pox is at
least as severe when it attacks the unprotected to-day as in
pre-vaccination times. But there are two causes alone to
which the shrinkage in the death rate from Small Pox can be
attributed. Either the poison of the disease has become
less intense, or the human body less susceptible to the
influence of the poison. Either the bullet is dispatched with
lessened impetus, or the armoured plating has acquired an
improved resisting power. In regard to the former of these
two contentions a direct negative has been proved. We are
called upon, then, to accept the alternative theory.
But whilst some admit that the body is more efficiently
protected now than formerly, they contend that this condition
results rather from the effects of improved sanitary
administration than from vaccination. But an insurmountable
difficulty stands in the way of the acceptance of this
proposition. For if we assume that sanitation be the protective
influence, we must be prepared to show that both
the vaccinated and the unvaccinated alike derive an equal
share of protection. But it has been shown that the unvaccinated
when coming within the range of attack are
subject to a larger rate of mortality than formerly. The
contention that sanitation is the protective influence breaks
down. The conclusion to which we are driven confirms
the opinion held in the days of Jenner. Vaccination confers
upon those who are subjected to its agency a protective
influence effective in lessening the severity of the attack,
and in reducing the mortality from Small Pox.
In the years 1887 and 1888, when Small Pox in epidemic
form invaded Sheffield, the population consisted of four
distinct sections, distinguished from one another by welldefined
characteristics.