It must not be thought that I wish to advance the theories of the anti-vaccinationist. I have had my children vaccinated because it is the law, and in the opinion of medical men a preventive against the disease, but viewing the change of medical opinion with reference to cholera during last year, and comparing tests and observations that have been made, they will soon be convinced that vaccination is a futile remedy to use with a view of stamping out the disease.
At present the question is (with medical men) one of theory, but ere long I am certain that they will take a more practical view of the case and definitely fix the origin of this disease and its distribution.
Previous to vaccination being introduced, putrid matter in vaults, cesspits, and drains was allowed to reach a higher state of putrefaction, and thus the poisons from them became more virulent and produced the disease of a more virulent type.
If modern systems of drainage and sanitary arrangements were the means of preventing this high state of putrefaction, and of reducing the disease to a milder form, perfecting these arrangements should be the means of stamping it out altogether and rendering vaccination useless.
Unless it can be proved that poisons given off through the skin and from the lungs of persons suffering from the disease are as virulent as those from putrid matter alone, or from the excreta from those suffering from the disease, the theory of contagion[[2]] cannot be entertained.
[2]. The word contagion as here used is not intended to apply to cases where persons not affected sleep in the same bed, or wear the same clothes, or handle things from, or persons suffering from this disease, as this would be inoculation.
Many medical men will say that the facts to prove that small-pox is transmitted by contagion are so positive that there is no chance of disputing them.
Let us examine two cases to support this theory.
Small-pox is prevalent, say, in the north of London; a man is in business there from seven to eight hours each day, but his home is in the S.W. district. He is taken ill, and remains at home, calling in his medical attendant, who on his second visit pronounces it a case of small-pox, and orders his removal to the hospital. In a few days other members of the family are taken and removed, and similar cases occur in the neighbourhood.
The theory of the medical man would be that his first patient had contracted his disease in his place of business in the N.W. district and had conveyed it to the S.W. district, distributing it in the neighbourhood in which he lived. This is only theory, and the only thing the medical man has to rely on to prove his case is, that the man first taken was engaged three-fourths of each day where small-pox was prevalent. Against this theory, assume that the disease originated by the whole of these persons inhaling poisons from putrid matter in their own locality or at their own doors, or in their homes, but that the atmospheric influences to develop the poison was a few days longer completing its work in the S.W. district than in the north. Then test the sanitary conditions of both localities, and you will find similar matter producing poisons. These are facts that will support this view of the case, as well as the following evidence which cannot be contradicted. When sewage matter is allowed to remain in bulk undisturbed, and in connection with a system of sewers, it forms retorts for the generation of these poisons, and they are conveyed for miles in drains by atmospheric and other influences; and where these people lived the gases would probably be discharged with a greater facility than at any other point.