Richmond Enquirer

Vaccination, variolous, and varioloid diseases, &c. &c.

The last thing that we ever expected to find ourselves engaged in, was a controversy on a medical subject. We have, to be sure, been forced into one as little suited to our habits, when we have been obliged to speak of questions of law. Opinions on the latter subject, however, are merely speculative, whilst those on the former are fraught with consequences of vast importance to the comfort of society, and even to the lives of our fellow creatures.

We inserted in our last, a letter from Dr. Smith, addressed to us, which we had then no time to remark upon; and in regard to which we will only now say, that he has no right to blame us for impressions flowing naturally from his own letter, published to the world, and to us amongst others. If his letter was expressed more strongly than it ought to have been, or than he intended, assuredly we are not to blame for having taken it literally. We have now before us two letters from highly respectable medical gentlemen, one of which says: "Dr. Smith's first letter certainly was calculated to make the impression you received from it." Another expresses the same sentiment in different terms.

On a subject of such moment, we shall not be guilty of such absurdity as to offer our opinions to the world. We will give to our readers such opinions as are entitled to respect, and none other. The following is extracted from a letter which is entirely of that character.

"This varioloid disease, about which you express so much apprehension, has long been known in Great Britain. Some doubts have been entertained as to its real nature: it has been considered to be chicken pox, but much more generally a modification of small pox. It occurs after perfect vaccination as well as after small pox. This occurrence after vaccination gave much uneasiness in England at first, but as modified by vaccination general experience and authority concur in demonstrating that it is not to be ranked as a mortal disease. Eight cases have been brought as exceptions. On this point there is no difference of opinion, because facts have incontrovertibly established it as true, that this varioloid disease is as mild as chicken pox, is not a fatal complaint, is divested of its fatality by the previous influence of vaccination—and therefore it remains true, incontrovertibly true, that vaccination continues what its illustrious discoverer pronounced it, a shield against the pestiferous effects of small pox. It never has been contended by Jenner, by the great English National Vaccine Institution, or by any experienced authority, that no exception to the preventive effects of vaccination occurred. It is however absolutely true, that small pox occurs much more frequently, twice in the same person, than after vaccination.

The following statement is perfectly authentic, and may be taken as an example of the tendencies of varioloid disease, under the different circumstances of vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects.

Eighty-three vaccinated persons had varioloid diseases.
None died.
Six only were very sick.

Forty-one unvaccinated persons took varioloid disease.
Thirteen died.
Many others were dangerously ill—much pitted and deformed after recovery.

In the first case, there is slight deformity—no death.
In the other, Small Pox, in all its fatal and horrible tendencies and results."

No communication to the Editors on this subject can be published, unless the writer's name accompany it. It is of too great importance to be treated of anonymously.

[Ib.