Daily National Intelligencer

THE NATURAL SMALL POX.

This disease within the last six months has extended itself more widely throughout the U. States and committed greater ravages on our population than has been manifested for many years past. It appears to have been introduced with the return of commerce into the city of New York, where it soon became epidemic.—Many hundred persons are known to have perished there under this plague during the last winter—the number of deaths reported by small pox alone being generally from fifteen to twenty five persons every week. Vaccination however was resorted to very generally and without delay; so that there are but few persons there, comparatively speaking, who are liable to take it. From New York the small pox was soon carried to many other places, particularly such of our sea port towns as kept up an uninterrupted commercial intercourse with her citizens.

It thus found its way into the states of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia, where it now rages in many places and is very destructive of human life. The states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York are not free from it at this time. In the city of Philadelphia it has been lately propagated in some instances by the variolous inoculation, which it would seem was still adhered to by many prejudiced persons there.

The small pox will in this way, most probably, soon become as generally prevalent in Philadelphia, as it was in New York: and it will, in like manner, be transported with their commerce, until every town and village throughout the U. States may be expected to suffer more or less from its fatal effects; and before the ensuing summer arrives at its greatest degree of heat, an unbounded scene of distress may be thus produced. A speedy and general resort to vaccination is the only remedy which can check it with any probable degree of success and advantage whatever.

That the most complete success will attend every effort of this kind, if properly conducted and resorted to without too great delay, is fully evinced from events which occurred under our immediate notice in January last, in the city of Baltimore and in this city; in both of which places the natural small pox was introduced & expelled again, by the expeditious use of the kine pox, without the loss of one individual by it in either city. The use of this remedy should be immediately encouraged by every means in our power. Every restraint or existing impediment to its free administration should be removed. Premiums to such citizens as should vaccinate the greatest number of persons, in any given time or place, might be awarded with many advantages to the public. But the most essential encouragement, which is necessary to be given to this practice, at this time, is the furnishing those who want it with the genuine vaccine matter accompanied with suitable directions for conducting vaccination in a true and proper manner. On this point alone, as it were the pivot on which it turned, its successful use in any country must always depend. Much good has been no doubt accomplished by the act of Congress, designating an agent for this express purpose; but it would have been more honorable to our country, as well as of much greater convenience to our citizens, if such provision had been made in that, as would have enabled and compelled the agent of vaccination to furnish this remedy free of any fees, costs or charges to any citizen, who chose to apply to him for it. A bill to this effect has indeed been lately reported in Congress at the suggestion of the vaccine agent, and it is hoped so important a provision for the welfare of our country will not be overlooked or rejected, at a time like this, when we are so seriously threatened to be overwhelmed with a pestilence which cannot be conquered or extirpated in any other manner.

It is well known that a supply of the genuine vaccine infection cannot be kept up by any person, without a regular and constant attention to renew it at short intervals, from one subject to another. From this cause it must always happen, as has been always heretofore the case, that but very few individuals will keep it active for a longer period of time than may suit their own convenience, or they may have occasion to use it in the limited circle of their private practice. From the vaccine agent only, therefore, can our citizens generally expect to obtain a remedy, with any degree of certainty, particularly at such times as they may have the most pressing and urgent necessity to use it; as when, for instance, the small pox may be suddenly and unexpectedly introduced in any place, &c. On these accounts every impediment to vaccination should be removed without further delay; and there should be no fees, costs or charges whatever left to obstruct the free intercourse which should exist between the vaccine agent and the people, in a business of such vital importance to them.

HUMANITAS.