178 MODERN BIOLOGIC THERAPEUSIS 



causing 4,658 deaths. In 1902 there were re- 

 ported 54,014 cases with 2,083 deaths. In 1912 

 there were 22,076 cases of smallpox with 235 

 deaths officially recorded. It is estimated that 

 ten million people in this country are unvacci- 

 nated, and sufficient foci remain to maintain 

 smallpox in epidemic proportions as long as the 

 public cares to tolerate it. 



Before the introduction of vaccination, small- 

 pox had become a permanent disease which 

 never entirely ceased in any one year and every 

 third or fifth year became a great epidemic. In 

 non-epidemic years one-tenth of all mortality 

 was from smallpox : in epidemic years one-half. 

 Countless mortals were maimed by loss of sight. 

 It is not uncommon to see in some cities in the 

 Far East six or eight people totally blind being 

 led by a blind leader, each with his hand on the 

 other's shoulder. Of newborn children one- 

 third died of smallpox before their first year of 

 life, while one-half died before their fifth year 

 of life. 



Smallpox is highly infectious and no immun- 

 ity is given by race, sex, or season. Notwith- 

 standing this, so great is the protection given by 

 vaccination and revaccination that a large ma- 



