View report page

12
part of the population to the compulsory operation of vaccination,
who style themselves anti-vaccinationists.
That Smallpox is one of the greatest scourges the human
frame is subject to is undoubted, and that by the proper
preventive measures of vaccination we can entirely alter the form
of this disease, and defeat it of its deadliest effects, is by past
experience proved by overwhelming evidence.
In support of this evidence I would call your attention to the
following statistics, these being only a few of a great number.
In a severe epidemic of Smallpox which prevailed at Norwich
in 1819, the annexed table shows the result: —
Total number of
persons in 112 infected households.
Number.
Cases of
Smallpox.
Deaths by
Smallpox.
603
202
46
1. Protected by previous
Smallpox
297
—
—
2. Protected by vaccination
91
2
—
3. Unprotected
215
200
46
Similarly in the severe epidemic of 1828, at Marseilles, the
number of cases and of deaths, and their relation to the vaccinated,
non-vaccinated, and variolated masses of exposed population were
stated as follows:—
The first column
of figures representing
an estimate
(which of course
can only be approximative)
made
for the purpose by
the Société Roy.
de Médicine.
Total number of persons
at the ages (0 30) which
were almost exclusively
susceptible.
Number.
Cases of
Smallpox.
Deaths by
Smallpox.
40,000
6,020
1,024
1. Protected by previous
Smallpox
2,000
20
4
2. Protected by
vaccination
30,000
2,000
20
3. Unprotected
8,000
4,000
1,000