The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser

Small Pox. The Boston Advertiser contains an interesting letter from Dr. Jackson on the subject of the small pox and varioloid. He says that experience has proved that neither the kine pox nor the small pox afford a sure preservation against the recurrence of the latter disease, not, when cases do happen, it is always in a modified form, and is then called the varioloid. Wherever the disease has prevailed, he says that experience has proved the truth of the following general observations:

1st. That small pox in a modified form may appear in those, who have once undergone that disease, whether in the natural way or by inoculation. This modified disease is now called the varioloid disease. It has sometimes been fatal.

2d. That the same varioloid disease may appear in those who have undergone the cow pox: although it would seem to have been more rarely fatal in them than in those who have before had the small pox.

3d. That the varioloid disease is the same as the small pox, except so far as it is modified by the state of the constitution, in the person who suffers it: and that according to the matter generated in it will produce the perfect small pox in those who have never had either that disease or the cow pox.

Thus it appears that the shield on which so much reliance has been placed, to defend us from the small pox, has been pierced by the shafts of that malignant disease. But we have this consolation left, that though we may be wounded by those shafts, they are deprived of their venom by the guard we may throw about us. In other words, if we cannot always avoid the small pox, we may protect ourselves by vaccination from much of the suffering and almost entirely from the danger of that disease. Let me add that where the varioloid disease has prevailed, it has often happened that all the cases have been called by that name, including cases of real small pox, in persons who have never been protected either by that disease or by cow pox. And thus we have heard of many deaths from this disease, called the varioloid. But, as I understand the matter, almost all those deaths have occurred from the genuine small pox. Hence the varioloid disease has had a worse reputation than it deserves. If these observations do not remove all your apprehensions, they may diminish them; or at least may render them definite. Vague and general fears are always the most alarming.