View report page

13
So also in Copenhagen. Of 659 vaccinated persons who suffered
in the Smallpox epidemics of 1823-7 only 5 died, being at the
rate of 1 in 132; while of 176 non-vaccinated persons who caught
the disease more than a fourth seem to have died; and similarly in
the epidemics of 1828-30, and part of that of 1832-7, it seems that
out of 228 unprotected patients 63 had died; but of 1,373 cases of
post-vaccinal Smallpox only 14 were fatal.
Dr. Kinnis, formerly Superintendent of Vaccination at Colombo,
in his "Report on Smallpox as it appeared at Ceylon in 1833-4,"
and in an Appendix relating to observations made by Dr. Forbes
in the epidemic of 1830, gives enumerations from which the
annexed table is compiled.

Observations, more or less to the same effect, have been made,
I believe, in every country to which vaccination has been extended,
and at every time when epidemic Smallpox has prevailed. Sometimes
the difference has seemed less, sometimes more; but
difference, and very great difference, in favour of vaccinated
persons, as regards the severity of Smallpox, is made certain by
the general and strong testimony of innumerable observers.
This, however, is only a part of the case, and I venture especially
to beg your attention to what remains, as it is of much administrative
importance. When the above and similar statistics are
seen in mass, it is merely noticed, that among a number of persons
suffering from Smallpox, those who have previously been
vaccinated incur much less risk than others. But when such a
mass is dissected, there comes out as a second fact, that this lesser