PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND HYGIENE 



were in the Russian Empire in the five years 

 from 1893 to 1898 a total of 275,502 deaths 

 from small-pox; during the same period in 

 Spain there were 23,881 deaths from small- 

 pox; in Hungary there were 12,241 deaths; 

 in Italy there were 11,000; and in Austria 

 11,000 all countries in which vaccination is 

 much neglected. During the same five years 

 in Germany where vaccination is w r ell carried 

 out, with a population five times greater than 

 Spain, there were 287 deaths from small-pox, 

 and these were largely among persons of for- 

 eign birth who had not been subject to the 

 vaccination laws of the country. 



There is a cult of people called "antivacci- 

 nationists." They are usually the same indi- 

 viduals as "antivivisectionists." Their psy- 

 chology is described in a subsequent chapter. 

 They are often victims of misinformation or 

 ignorance. There are no scientific men among 

 their ranks. The whole medical profession and 

 all biologists, with a few exceptions among the 

 uncultured, understand the value and im- 

 portance of inoculations against small-pox. 



The one contention which is correct is that 

 there are certain dangers in the practice of 

 vaccination. They are the dangers inherent in 



97 



