A report on vaccination and its results : based on the evidence taken by the Royal Commission during the years 1889-1897. Vol. 1, The text of the commission report.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on Vaccination.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A report on vaccination and its results : based on the evidence taken by the Royal Commission during the years 1889-1897. Vol. 1, The text of the commission report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    33. If vaccination have the protective influence alleged, in view of the extent to which we have shown that it was practised in the first quarter of the present century, its fruit ought to be seen in a diminution of the mortality from smallpox during that period. This brings us to the second of the two questions which we have said presented them- selves : Does the history of smallpox mortality since vac- cination was introduced afl^ord warrant for a belief in its protective effect ? This, of course, involves an inquiry into any other possible causes affecting the amount of smallpox mortality. We enter then upon the first stage of this inquiry, confining our attention for the present to the period we have indicated. 34. It becomes necessary at the outset to consider the subject of smallpox mortality and its prevalence prior to the iutroduction of vaccination, and especially during the latter part of the eighteenth century, the period immediately prior to its introduction. 35. The early history of smallpox, like that of many similar diseases, is obscure, is subject to much debate, and, save perhaps on one point, is of antiquarian interest only. The records ol the eighteenth century show that the disease was very prevalent in western Europe during the whole of that century ; we shall discuss the history of the disease during that period in some detail presently. The records of the seventeenth century also show that smallpox was a very common disease during that century; this is especially the case as regards the latter half of the century. The statistics which exist with respect to Geneva, and various scattered statements, further show that smallpox was a well-known disease in the sixteenth century, but except for the records which are said to exist of severe epidemics in Iceland taking place as early as 1241, as we go further back the evidence as to the existence of the disease becomes less and less clear, and indeed debatable, de- pending as it does largely on the interpretation of inci- dental statements in various medical and other writings. There seems, however, to be adequate proof of the preva-