Vaccination. — ^Vaccination is the insertion into the human
system of the infectious matter of a mild disease called cow-
pox. Cow-pox is really small-pox, which, having been acted
on by the system of the cow, has been thus rendered innocu-
ous to the human body, at the same time that it is protective of
a second attack. Thus, in vaccination we have a mild and
harmless form of small-pox, which is voluntarily accepted in
the place of the more malignant form of small-pox, which
seizes its victims against their will.
Vaccination is the only real protector we have against the
ravages of small-pox. This is proved by the following facts,
among many others: In proportion as vaccination is properly
and efficiently performed, so the mortality of small-pox is
reduced. Secnodly, by the freedom from infection which is
enjoyed by properly re-vaccinated persons, in constant attend-
ance upon, and actual contact with, small-poxJ|patients. There
has never been a case of small-pox among the nurses or the
attendants at the Small-pox Hospital, Highgate, within a
period of considerably over thirty years. This is simply
because they are all properly re-vaccinated before they enter
upon their duties.
Mode of Vaccination. — The operation of vaccination is
simple, but so highly important that no care bestowed upon its
performance is thrown away.
The following instructions will be sufficient, if carefully fol-
lowed: Select an arm of a vaccinated infant that has good
vesicles on the eighth day, i. e., the day week on which the
lymph was inserted. Then, with a perfectly clean lancet, make
several punctures in the clear part of the vesicles, avoiding
the red border of the inflamed skin, so as not to draw blood.
A clear watery fluid will ooze out in beads. Take off some of
this clear fluid on the point of the lancet, and then, taking
the arm of the infant, or person to be vaccinated, draw the
skin tense and insert the point of the lancet nearly horizontally
t%
MEDICINAL.
YACCINi: VBISIOLSS.
into the skin to an extent of about one-tenth Of an inch (-);
then give the lancet a turn round, withdraw it, and press it
down upon the puncture. Five such punctures, to the distance
of about half an inch apart, should be made on one arm.
Supposing that an arm with mature vesicles should not ^be
available, lymph may be procur-
ed from any vaccine station. It
will be received in that case,
preserved either in tubes, or on
small points of ivory. If in tubes,
the point at each end of one
must be broken off, and the con-
tained lymph be gently breathed
on to the point of the lancet,
and inserted as above directed.
If the lymph have been preserved
dry on "points," one of these
should be used for each punc-
ture. Dip the point quickly into
cold water, and shake off any excess of water. The object is
just sufficiently to moisten the lymph, that it will be easily
scraped off on to the point of the lancet, and inserted as before
directed.
Some degree of inflammation occasionally occurs on the
vaccinated arm. This will generally disappear quickly under
the application of simple water-dressing. A slight eruption of
small, colorless pimples on various parts of the body also
occasionally follows vaccination, and disappears in the course
of a few days.
Page 276
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Vaccination. — ^Vaccination is the insertion into the human system of the infectious matter of a mild disease called cowpox. Cow-pox is really small-pox, which, having been acted on by the system of the cow, has been thus rendered innocuous to the human body, at the same time that it is protective of a second attack. Thus, in vaccination we have a mild and harmless form of small-pox, which is voluntarily accepted in the place of the more malignant form of small-pox, which seizes its victims against their will.
Vaccination is the only real protector we have against the ravages of small-pox. This is proved by the following facts, among many others: In proportion as vaccination is properly and efficiently performed, so the mortality of small-pox is reduced. Secondly, by the freedom from infection which is enjoyed by properly re-vaccinated persons, in constant attendance upon, and actual contact with, small-pox patients. There has never been a case of small-pox among the nurses or the attendants at the Small-pox Hospital, Highgate, within a period of considerably over thirty years. This is simply because they are all properly re-vaccinated before they enter upon their duties.
Mode of Vaccination. — The operation of vaccination is simple, but so highly important that no care bestowed upon its performance is thrown away.
The following instructions will be sufficient, if carefully followed: Select an arm of a vaccinated infant that has good vesicles on the eighth day, i. e., the eighth day on which the lymph was inserted. Then, with a perfectly clean lancet, make several punctures in the clear part of the vesicles, avoiding the red border of the inflamed skin, so as not to draw blood. A clear watery fluid will ooze out in beads. Take off some of this clear fluid on the point of the lancet, and then, taking the arm of the infant, or person to be vaccinated, draw the skin tense and insert the point of the lancet nearly horizontally
[illustration: VACCINE VESICLES]
into the skin to an extent of about one-tenth of an inch (-); then give the lancet a turn round, withdraw it, and press it down upon the puncture. Five such punctures, to the distance of about half an inch apart, should be made on one arm.
Supposing that an arm with mature vesicles should not ^be available, lymph may be procured from any vaccine station. It will be received in that case, preserved either in tubes, or on small points of ivory. If in tubes, the point at each end of one must be broken off, and the contained lymph be gently breathed on to the point of the lancet, and inserted as above directed. If the lymph have been preserved dry on "points," one of these should be used for each puncture. Dip the point quickly into cold water, and shake off any excess of water. The object is just sufficiently to moisten the lymph, that it will be easily scraped off on to the point of the lancet, and inserted as before directed.
Some degree of inflammation occasionally occurs on the vaccinated arm. This will generally disappear quickly under the application of simple water-dressing. A slight eruption of small, colorless pimples on various parts of the body also occasionally follows vaccination, and disappears in the course of a few days.