1885.J 
Analyses of Books. ^ 
of the argument goes— warranted in saying that vaccination has 
not yet received a fair trial. 
This compels us, overstepping for the moment the second and 
third propositions, to turn to the fourth,— the increased preva- 
ence of diseases which may be, and in certain cases actually 
have been, communicated by vaccination. 
Among these rank syphilis, cancer, tabes mesenterica, pyaemia, 
and skin disease. In all these a steady increase must be ad- 
mitted. Thus in the four years 1850 to 1854 the average death- 
late in England from syphilis was thirty-seven per million of the 
living population ; from 1875 to 1879 it had reached eighty-six ; 
and from 1878 to 1880 eighty-four ! — an increase of more than 
100 P ei But ^ vaccination is a main fadtor in the spread 
of syphilis, it is strange that an increase in the latter should 
coincide, as Mr. Wallace’s curve and his quoted words alike 
show, with a decrease in vaccination. The same remark applies, 
of course, to the other inoculable diseases. 
The statistical argument that smallpox has not been mitigated 
by vaccination seems to be decisively made out. The proportion 
of smallpox cases occurring is duly recorded. So also is the 
number of deaths. But on comparing these figures it is found 
that the proportion of deaths to cases is little lower now than it 
was before the introduction of vaccination. The most trust- 
worthy returns available, from the years 1723, 1746 to 1763, and 
J 779> gi ve a general average of i8'8 per cent. 
In our day Mr. Marson’s returns, 1836 to 1851, and the reports 
of the London, Homerton, Deptford, Fulham, and Dublin small- 
pox hospitals, from 1870 to 1880, give a general average of i 8'5. 
This is surely a trifling gain if we remember that medical science 
has made great advances since 1779, and that the management 
of hospitals has been notably improved. Yet all this progress, 
with vaccination to boot, only scores the pitiful decrease of 
0’3 per cent ! 
The strongest part of Mr. Wallace’s case is drawn from mili- 
tary and naval statistics. All soldiers and sailors are vaccinated 
on joining the services, whether they have been previously vac- 
cinated or not. Being a picked body of men, in the prime of 
life, they are healthier and stronger than the general average of 
the male population. They are placed under constant medical 
supervision, and enjoy ample food and fresh air. Yet the death- 
rate from smallpox in the army is 83 per million, and in the 
navy 157 per million. On the contrary, the smallpox death-rate 
among the adult male civil population, including the unvacci- 
nated, the weakly, and the diseased, ranges in five of our large 
towns from 89 to 131 per million. Yet our soldiers and sailors 
have the advantage of passing some part of their term of service 
in the Tropics, where smallpox is less prevalent. Surely if re- 
vaccination were the safeguard which it has been considered, the 
army and navy ought to be exempt from smallpox. We find no 
