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vaccination and re-vaccination are compulsory, and Small Pox mortality
in practically abolished. Beginning with the year 1816, it is found
that in that country, previous to the law of 1874, the annual death rate
from Small Pox was 390 per million of the population, from 1874 to
1892 it has been 15, and in the last 10 years of the period was only 7;
moreover the compulsory vaccination age is the 2nd year of life, and
investigation showed that, in 1886—90, more than two-fifths of the few
deaths that occurred from Small Pox were under 2 years of age. In
Austria, where vaccination is not compulsory, the rate, instead of being
7 per million as in Prussia, was 458 in the same period. In Belgium
also vaccination is not compulsory, and in 1875 — 84 it had a rate of
441 per million as compared with Prussia's 22 in the same period. In
Italy, since 1888, vaccination of infants has been compulsory, as has
re-vaccination of children attending Public Schools. Already a great
improvement is indicated. In 1881—i)0 the Small Pox death rate was
455 per million yearly, and in 1891—4 it was only 65. At the time
of the European epidemic of 1870—5, Scotland, England, Sweden, and
Bavaria passed a compulsory vaccination law, and their Small Pox rates:
per million in the worst years were 1470, 1830, 1660, and 1661 respectively.
Prussia, Holland, and Austria had no general compulsive
vaccination, and their rates in the worst years were 5060, 5490, and
6180. Coming to 1877—1886 with vaccination not compulsory in
Austria, with only infantile vaccination compulsory in England, and
with vaccination and re-vaccination compulsory in Prussia, the average
rate per million from Small Pox in the Capitals of these 3 countries was,
in Vienna 670, London 250, Berlin 10. In London the rate would
have been less but for the disease spreading from the Small Pox
Hospital it then contained.
I have very few words to add, but they are worthy of your
serious consideration.
Firstly, that it is of the utmost importance that if you or anyone
in whom you are interested is vaccinated, the operation should be performed
efficiently, that i3 with a sufficient area of vesicles. It is
sometimes pretended that it does not matter whether there may be 1,
2, 3, or 4 marks. It matters a great deal. The amount of protection
afforded by Vaccination is closely related to the area of the vesicles, and
the making of 1, 2, or 3 small pocks is not sufficient to give lasting
protection; it is merely trifling with the operation, and many certificates
of so-called successful Vaccination are nothing better than an official
sanction of what is known to be of very little value, and ought, to be
illegal. Secondly, the lymph used should be pure and effective; it can
hardiy be credited that a Nation which is so very careful that the
margarine tub should not be labelled "Butter," can be so indifferent
and careless as to the source, manufacture, and sale of the lymph