THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, 1913. VACCINATION.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 September 1913, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10, 1913. VACCINATION.

So much attention lias been focussed on the question of vaccination lately by reason of the the prevalence of epidemics (among which is undoubtedly smallpox) that a few remarks bearing on the matter are quite opportune. Among lay minds there is a lot of misconception as to the purpose and efficacy of vaccination, and there are many objectors to the process who can i give no valid reason for their attitude. A similar position obtains in reference to many other social and health laws and obligations. It is just a question of pitting a lay statement against the training and experience of the scientist. The Health Department's panacea is vaccination; indeed, the preponderance of expert opinion favours the conclusion that vaccination confers an active immunity against smallpox, and practically protects for a certainty for a certain period of time. This immunity gradually diminishes and eventually disappears, varying for a longer or ! shorter term in different individuals. But to the lay mind, judging by the opposition to vaccination, some more convincing explanation of the effectiveness of this procedure, is necessary. They ask, why should this process induce immunity from a loathsome disease ? An authority on medical affairs says that it is a fundamental truth that in the case of certain diseases one attack protects against subsequent infection. The body, once attacked, and able to resist the attack, sets up a defence reserve, as it TV ere, and is ready next time to show fight,to the invading bacteria. This law of nature of nature is aided by vaccination. A person who has been deliberately infected with vaccinia, or covvpox, a mild or attenuated form of smallpox, is thereby enabled to set up in his own

body the defensive toxins which, will be ready to destroy the virulent bacteria of smallpox, should they attempt to claim him a suitable field for their ravage?. Vaccination consists in innoculation of an attenuated form of smallpox germs, the diminution in virulence being brought about by the passage through the body of a calf, a less susceptible animal than man. The attenuated germs are

present in the lymph of the vesicles (or little blisters) formed on the vaccinated person, and this lymph may be used for inoculation of other individuals, as the germs do not regain their virulence by repassage through man. Although, theoretically considered, it is immaterial from what source, human or bovine, the lymph is derived; the lymph got from an " animal" source is preferred in practice, and what is known as v glycerinated calflymph" is chiefly used. The danger of any ill-ejects following the use of the latter is very small. Complications are generally due to want of cleanliness and lack of care in after-treat-ment of the lesions resulting from the innoculation. " Arm-to-arm vaccination is nowadays utterly condemned.

To those who study the question it is clear enough why vaccination should induce immun-' ity from an objectionable disease If the Health Department, however, had shown more energy in the early stages of the outbreak there would have been little to worry about by this time. Meanwhile the epidemic has made substantial progress, and yet has scarcely been seriously combatted; the Department seems afraid of the expense involved in stamping out the disease, v