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Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6534, 4 February 1882, Page 5

Anti-vaccinationists have lately received a great blow. Their chief objection to the practice instituted by Jenner is on the score of the danger of human infection. It is useless to plead against this objection that the cases of contamination are few. The cases cannot be denied. Whether it be that the contagion has come through the lymph, or been communicated by the lancet of the practitioner, the result is there before ns. The question of the source of contagion is one on which doctors differ. In the difference between doctors, the anti-vaccinationists found a certain amount of shelter. After all, they coaid not be deprived of their premise. Nobody could deny that a certain amount of risk had to be run in every vaccination. The anti-vaccinationists aver that the risk is too great. Their opponents hold that it is by no means greater than all good citizens may be called upon to ran for the general good. The controversy, as far as New Zealand is concerned, onght to be over. Now that calf lymph has been established at Sunny side, there is absolutely no fear of human contagion from the lymph. The Government, with most commendable foresight and promptitude/ sent for the best lympth to be got in Europe, Belgian being the best, was sent. On its arrival experiments were made with it at Suonyside, with the result that there is now a prospect oil an inexhaustible supply of ca!f lymph. There is no necessity for arm to arm vaccination whatever. The lancet difficulty has been got over by the adoption of the point system, which abolishes the lancet entirely. The lymph is kept on the point of a small slip of ivory sharpened at one end. In vaccination the operator simply scarifies the skin with tbe said point and the operation is over. The lymph has been left in the system, and the point, costing 4d, is thrown away. Hence there is no fear of con-

tagion either from lymph, or surgical instrument. Is there danger of wiimal ’’fection ? Not if the calves are prov examined and passed by a veteriy Now thiß is exa<3fcl y what u * or at Sunnyside. The lymph therefore free from all danger whatever. Observing • that arrangemental are being made by Dr

Haoon to supply the public gratis, we take the opportunity of expressing a hope that the supply will come into very general nse.