VACCINATION

This method of protection against small-pox was introduced by Dr. Jenner, an English man, in the year 1798. Before this date Lady Montagu introduced the practice of inoculation from Turkey. This consisted in the inoculation of small-pox matter during robust health. By this means an atiack a small-pox was induced, which was usually mild and gave protection from subsequent attacks. The danger of this method was that not only might the attack bo scvere, but it often started an epidemic of small-pox. Vaccination, on the other hand, never produces an attack of small-pox nor starts an epidemic. The lymph with which vaccination is performed is obtained from calves suffering from the diseaso known as vaccinia or cow-pox. Jenner observed that the milkmaids escaped in many epidemics of small-pox, and found that in these cases the cows had cow-pox. Thus in milking them the milkers had vaccinated themselves. Since this discovery inoculation has been prohibited by law, and vaccination enforced. So'great has been the succe of this method that in nearly all the countries of the civilised world the disease has been almost forgotten, instead of being a source of daily terror. ‘The result is the production of anti-vaccinators. These in various countries and at various times diminish the thoroughne with which the law is enforced. For a few thee all goes well, then follows @ terrible epidemic, and the anti-vaccinators and every ono else are vaccinated. Aftor this outbreak the law is enforced more rigidly for a time, but gradually tho coae of public Song seg slackens into iatitiertihina, and istory repeats itself, as it always will under the same conditions. The Vaccination Act of 1898 is on its trial and will probably require modification, but it has certainly effected one much-needed reform, for it abolished arm-to-arm vaccination, and permitted the public vaccinators to u calf-lymph only, thus preventing the risk of contagion, as the calf is killed and proved to be healthy by post-mortem examination, before ey ot the lymph obtaiord from it is permitted to leave the laboratory. Another improvement effected pa Act of 1898 is the abolition of vaccination stations, the medical officer boing i the Act required to attend each caso at its home. Epidemics of measics, whooping cough and the like, which were, at times, started by the collection of infants together at the vaccination stations, are thus no longer produced in this way. The most suitable age jor vaccination in the healthy infant is six weeks, though the law permits any time up to six months. Vaccination should be performed in four or five places, for not only is the protection afforded thus increased, but the effect on the arm is le severe than when only one point of inoculation is chosen. If desired, vaccination may be performed on the leg, so that the scars do not show, but it is difficult to keep the leg of an infant always clean and dry, and in the adult, if this site is chosen, the ae of being unable to walk for a few days should be in mind. After vaccination has been performed, tho child becomes fretful about the fifth day. About the ninth day the ekin eround the vaccination spots becomes red and [s. 420]