Vaccination eruptions : original research / by Thomas Dobson Poole.

  • Poole, Thomas Dobson.
Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vaccination eruptions : original research / by Thomas Dobson Poole. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    there probably is some abrasion in each case is shown by Dr Buist (Ed. Obstet. Trans., vol. xvi., p. 109), who failed to produce a vesicle by rubbing lymph mixed with blood on the unbroken skin. Using a pocket handkerchief that has come into contact with vaccine vesicles, the vaccinated arm of the infant touching the breasts or the face while in bed, using some application that has been contaminated with lymph from vaccine vesicles, and scratches from a vaccinated child, are mentioned among the causes of acci- dental vaccination. Another possible cause of accidental vaccination is the using of a vaccine lancet for a different purpose, as is shown by Dr Buist's experiment (ibid) of inoculating a monkey with common yeast, which apparently produced a typical vaccine vesicle; but Dr Buist admits that the lancet was probably charged with dry vaccine. This shows, as Dr Buist points out, how necessary it is not to employ a vaccine lancet for any other purpose. The symptoms vary according to the site affected, but there is more or less inflammation, with its symptoms, accompanying the process, and in some cases closely re- sembling erysipelas. And this is a point of difference between an accidental pock and one due to vaccine ge'ner- alise'e (from blood infection). The lymph in its transit from the vaccinifer becomes tainted with septic germs, which are the cause of the in- flammation. Dr R W. Felkin (Ed. Obstet, Trans., vol. xvi., p. 107) records nine cases of accidental vaccination that have come under his notice. Two were inoculated in the corner of the eye, two on the mouth and cheek, one on the labium, one on the lip, one on the cheek, one on the breast, and one on the buttocks. The last mentioned case was curious. The patient, aged 28, had chafed himself in riding, and had used some vaseline from a pot from which his wife was dressing the vaccinated arm of the child. When Dr Felkin saw the patient there was a large area