VACCINATION.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume II, Issue 3, 31 March 1856, Page 8

VACCINATION.

Remarks on the great, benefit resulting from vaccination have often appeared in the Maori Messenger, and about a year ago the natives were informed, that the Government had adopted a plan for promoting vaccination throughout New-Zealand. In Auckland, certain days have been appointed for Vaccinating; but up to ibis lime, it is to be regretted tbat so few should have availed themselves of an opporluniiy ofbein? protected, by a very simple operation, from tbe scourge of tbe Small Pox, a disease which, in its ravages, has proved to be one of tbe most fearful on record, tbat ever afflicted tbe human race. To whatever causes this apparent indifference to so great a boon may be attributed, our native brethren are again implored to think most seriously of this important question ; and of all ihings not to trust to such false reasoning, as, that because they have been so frequenly cautioned, and Small Pox has not yet made its appearance, there need be no such great dread as they have been taught to entertain; for experience has shown this to be the most dangerous kind of all trustfulness, and they should know, that the Small Pox is a disease which has generally

nmde its appearance unexpectedly, a disease for which we should be ever on the watch, us we know not the day nor the hour when it may cornel The operation of Vaccinating is not painful, fout, as the swelling and irritation which follow, seem to deter some from being vaccinated, saying, it would be as well to have the Small Pox. as to undergo the pain which follows vaccination, k should be known, that tinless someswelling and inflamation followed, but little confidence would be placed in the value of the operation as a protection against so formidable a disease as the Small l*ox; and, to compare such slight suffering, as must necessarily result from successful Vaccination, with the suffering of Small Pox, is out of all question. After the most irritable case of vaccination, but a part of the arm can be swollen and inflamed, whereas, in Small Pox, the whole surface of the body generally, is swollen and covered with dreadful sores often running into each other, these painful ulcers even passing into the throat ; in most most cases the patient is unable to see for several days, from the swoJen and inflamed state of the eyelids, and when through mercy a recovery does take place, the person is disfigured for life with deep pits and scars, blindness evea resulting in mauy cases. With but the slightest possibility then of this frightful devastating disease visiting our shores, is it not the duty of every one to take advantage of a protection against its ravages, offered to us in so simple an operation as that of vaccination ? We. therefore once more remind our native, brethren that a surgeon attends at the Land office, Auckland, on every Tuesday Thursday and Saturday at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of vaccinating such natives as may be wise enough to attend; and in the most Christian Spirit, and with the kindest interest in their welfare, they are called upon to do so.