(1) In the Franco-Prussian War
During the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71, the German soldiers were all vaccinated, and only a part of the French army was vaccinated. Smallpox broke out in the two armies. As a result, 6,000 of the French died from smallpox and only 278 of the Germans. In many instances, the German and the French soldiers were confined in the same hospitals, with exactly the same opportunities to contract the disease. But, you might ask, if vaccination prevents smallpox, how did it happen that there were any cases among the German soldiers? In order to prevent smallpox, vaccination must be successful; that is, it must "take." We will tell you about different kinds of vaccination a little later.
Fig. 62. In Sweden, before vaccination, smallpox caused 2,050 deaths per million population (represented by the large square). Since the introduction of vaccination the death rate has dropped to 2 per million population (represented by the two small squares).
(2) In Sweden
In Sweden we find strong evidence that vaccination prevents smallpox. Up to 1801, before vaccination was introduced into that country, the yearly death rate from smallpox was 2,050 out of each million of the population. In 1801 vaccination was introduced into Sweden, but the people were allowed to be vaccinated or not, just as they pleased. During the ten years ending with 1811, the annual death rate from smallpox had dropped from 2,050 per million of the population to 686 per million. Later, vaccination was made compulsory (that is, everybody in Sweden was obliged to be vaccinated), and in 1894 the death rate had dropped to only two deaths a year per million population. Is it merely a coincidence that this great falling off in deaths from smallpox came after vaccination was discovered, or was it due to vaccination?
(3) In the Philippine Islands
Before the Philippine Islands were occupied by the Americans, vaccination was very little practiced, and a large percentage of the deaths in those islands was caused by smallpox. In 1897 smallpox caused about 40,000 deaths. A few years later the Americans enforced vaccination among the inhabitants of the Philippines, and the result was that in 1907 there were only 304 deaths from smallpox. There has been practically no quarantine for smallpox and no disinfection; the only cause of the suppression of the disease in the Philippine Islands is vaccination—nothing else.
(4) In Gloucester, England
In Gloucester, England, there used to be a great many people who did not believe in vaccination, though it is doubtful if they themselves could have explained why they did not. They seem to have been much like the man who, when asked, "What do you think of this?" replied, "I don't know anything about it, but I am against it." In 1890 Gloucester had a population of 42,000 people, most of whom had never been vaccinated. In the latter part of 1895, smallpox broke out. Quarantine was strictly carried out, but the disease continued to spread. As the people saw the number of victims rapidly increasing, many of them concluded that they had rather be vaccinated than have smallpox, even though they did not really believe in vaccination. By the first of April, 1896, over 36,000 people had been vaccinated in Gloucester, and by the first of August there was not a case of smallpox in the city. But what had happened in the meantime? There had been 1,979 cases of smallpox; a very large amount of money had been expended in quarantining; hundreds of persons had been disfigured for life; and 439 lives had been lost. And all this simply because the people did not believe in vaccination.