AND THE HEALING ART 505 



world has lately marked in a manner, though different, as imposing, the jubilee 

 of the life-work of a sovereign in science (Lord Kelvin). But while we cannot be 

 astonished that the centenary of Jenner's immortal discovery should have failed 

 to receive general recognition in this country, it is melancholy to think that this 

 year should, in his native county, have been distinguished by a terrible illustra- 

 tion of the results which would sooner or later inevitabh' follow the general 

 neglect of his prescriptions. 



I have no desire to speak severely of the Gloucester Guardians. They are 

 not sanitary authorities, and had not the technical knowledge necessary to 

 enable them to judge between the teachings of true science and the declamations 

 of misguided, though well-meaning, enthusiasts. They did what they believed to 

 be right ; and when roused to a sense of the greatness of their mistake, they did 

 their very best to repair it, so that their city is said to be now the best vaccinated 

 in Her Majesty's dominions. But though by their praiseworthy exertions they 

 succeeded in promptly checking the raging epidemic, they cannot recall the dead to 

 life, or restore beauty to marred features, or sight to blinded eyes. Would that 

 the entire country and our Legislature might take duly to heart this object-lesson ! 



How completely the medical profession were convinced of the efficacy- of 

 vaccination in the early part of this century was strikingly illustrated by an 

 account given by Professor Crookshank, in his interesting history of this subject, 

 of several eminent medical men in Edinburgh meeting to see the, to them, unpre- 

 cedented fact of a vaccinated person having taken small-pox. It has, of course, 

 since become well known that the milder form of the disease, as moditied b}' 

 passing through the cow, confers a less permanent protection than the original 

 human disorder. This it was, of course, impossible for Jenner to foresee. It is, 

 indeed, a question of degree, since a second attack of ordinary small-pox is 

 occasionally known to occur, and vaccination, long after it has ceased to give 

 perfect immunity, greatly modifies the character of the disorder and diminishes 

 its danger. And, happily, in revaccination after a certain number of years we 

 have the means of making Jenner's work complete. I understand that the 

 majority of the Commissioners, who have recently issued their report upon this 

 subject, while recognising the value and importance of revaccination, are so 

 impressed with the difftculties that would attend making it compulsory by legis- 

 lation that they do not recommend that course ; although it is advocated by two 

 of their number who are of peculiarly high authority on such a question. I was 

 lately told by a Berlin professor that no serious difficulty is experienced in carrying 

 out the compulsory law that prevails in Germany. The masters of the schools 

 arc directed to ascertain in the case of ex'cry child attainin;; the ago of twelve 

 whether revaccination has been practised. If not. and the [uirents refuse to 



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