THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, November 3, 1853. VACCINATION.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 127, 3 November 1853, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, November 3, 1853. VACCINATION.

Much has been already written on the importance of vaceination, in the hope of inducing our native brethren to avail themselves of so easy a security against becoming the victims of that frightful disorder, I lie Small l'ox. Still, although we have derived a very sincere pleasure in learning that our urgent warnings have led many persons to the Colonial Hospital where the operation has been carefully performed, we cannot, nevertheless, consider our duly fully discharged unlit we have used every effort lo impress upon the native mind the absolute necessity of vaccination having been performed ell'celually lo be of any value whatever. Many natives have been vaccinated ; and, when that has been done, they have gone away without ever returning to show themselves to the operator, notwithstanding his injunctions to go back at least on the eighth day, in order thai he might be able to say whether the vaccination process was successful, or a failure. We hope that, in a matter >o essential to the life and health ol the native population, they will, in future, be more observant of their own safely. The operation of vaccination is not always effectual upon its first performance. The inoculation is occasionally imperfect; and unless it lie completely successful, the means of averting the Small I'os is'missed ; and the preservative to which tin; negligent person trusted as a means of escape from disease or death rendered of no ell'ecl. It is quite as imperative thai the sore should a (leewards lie shown lo a Surgeon, as that a Surgeon should he invited to create I hat sore; because, if vaccination has been successfully performed the palienl will be assured of that Tact, and he may thereafter have little fear of infection fiom the Small I'ox, should it even unfortunately he introduced into this country. And if on the other hand vaccination has missed its first effect, it must he repealed until the person to bo vaeciualcil is made secure. We therefore urgently request tlx; attention of our native readers lo the following instructions dictated for their welfare by .Mr. Andrews, Assistant Surgeon of the Auckland Colonial Hospital: To TiiOoi: Natives who iiui: net:.\ V.VCC.INATI'.I). My I'uir.Mis, You were, informed in the Maori Afrssein/ir a short time since, that \ott could have your families vaccinated by coming to the Auckland Colonial Hospital. "About three weeks ago, lifty-nine Maories, men, women, and children, were vaccinated by the Colonial Surgeon, and llie Hospital Assistant Surgeon. To these families, the Surgeon gave the. strictest directions, that they should return on the eighth day, lo have their arms examined, yet not one returned. Now I think they would have returned as requested, if they had known the great importance lo themselves and relations which might have followed their doing so; and the great risk they ran in not returning —a risk which was so great, tfiat 1 feel it my duly, as one of your Surgeons, to point it "out lo von. You have already, I uudrrsland, been fully instructed, by Dr.' Thomson, of the history and progress of Small I'ox. You have, likewise." I am told, been made aware of the merciful discovery of vaccination, as a pre- j venlive of that pitiless disorder, by the celebralcd Dr. Jcuuer. I-'rom distrusting that ' remedy, mankind fell into an opposite extreme,' and placed such unbounded reliance ' oil its cllicacy, that they quite disregarded { that great physician's instructions. As you natives are lining now,—so did they forget (hat the full value of vaccination depended principally upon its being most carefulI;.' 1 ;.' observed throughout the different stages of 'is progress, anil thai all who were vaccinated required lo have their arms carefully watched tip lo the eighth day; too many have fancied

4h:U all they had to do was (o lie vaccinated; that If a little sore followed the vaccinalion, they were safe, and nothing more was required. This was a great error, and has led to loss of life. rearing, therefore, from none, of those reluming who were here lately vaccinated, that the same fatal error prevails with yon, I implore you to believe that it is quite as necessary to have your arms watched alter vaccination, as lo iie vaccinated at all. If you wish lor protection against that frightful disorder, the Small I'ox, you must not ho satisfied with only having your arms scratched, and cowpoek matter inserted—this alone may not protect you, and no Surgeon will tell" you you are safe, unless Ik; sees your anus al least once alter you are vaccinated. If possible, your arm should be examined by the vaccinator about the lifth day—but lor certain 011 the eighth day, for it is 011 the eighth day that a Surgeon may decide, of I the pock, from its shape, si/.e, and appearance, your probable safely, or the necessity of vaccinating you again." *». will, if I can, increase your zeal in lav rof vaccination, by informing you that whatever has been the violence of that great l scourge, the Small I'ox, among European . nations, among the natives of liiese Eastern Islands in the North and South Seas, it has been much more violent. The hiMorv of this disease in the l'acilic Islands, shows a malignant virulence which it would be dilicult for us to liud an example of iu Europe. About thirty years ago, the King and! Queen of the Sandwich Islands (countries but a short disliuce from these,) visited England. Tliey were unfortunately attacked with small pox; they were attended by the : Physicians of our Royal family, the first ' talent was found for lliein they died, and . it was acknowledged that their eases pre-; sealed a greater degree of violence than was usually seen amongst Europeans. ; I would not deceive yoti bv declaring ' vacci nation lo he a n rhiin preventive of I small pox, yel would I try lo assure you, I that il is the opinion of the most intelligent j Physicians and Surgeons, that \acciualiou I may ultimately drive small pox from our; systems, and that we may safely feel, until j this ciui be gained, that (hove who may not 1 be completely protrclcd, will be- so I:»r comforted, lhal iu having small pox al'.cr laccilialion, tliey will pass through the disease j with mildness and comparative safelv. And , here let me name to you a cheerful lad. A i question was pul iu a larger assembly of physicians and surgeon;, "floes any one present know of a single in •■lance of death from small pox in a person wiia had been vaccinated/" Only one replied he had known of one case! Is not this a fact, my friends, lo cheer us/ Ought it nol lo ind lice yon lo say we will have ourselves and our families vaccinated ? Ilefore his departure for Sydney Ihe Colonial Surgeon urged me lo do all I could to induce the Nadvcs of New Zealand lo be vaccinalcd, and with llic sinccrcsl hope lhal you may see Ihe necessity of nol only hiring vaccinalcd, bul, of being vaccinated carefully and thoroughly, and trusting lhal you may receive all its bene fits, I am, my friends, Vour very sincere well wisher, 11/.miv .lons' A.\/iiii:ws, Assistant Surgeon lo the Auckland Colonial Hospital.