and which would be likely to be mistaken for the _real_ lymph. Again,
if even the _genuine_ matter were not taken from the cow _exactly_ at
the proper time, it would he deprived of its protecting power.

50. _At what age do you recommend an infant to be first vaccinated_?

When he is two months old, as the sooner he is protected the
better. Moreover, the older he is the greater will be the difficulty
in making him submit to the operation, and in preventing his arm from
being rubbed, thus endangering the breaking of the vesicles, and
thereby interfering with its effects. If small-pox be prevalent in the
neighbourhood, he may, with perfect safety, be vaccinated at the
month's end; indeed if the small-pox be near at hand, he _must_ be
vaccinated, regardless of his age, and regardless of everything else,
for small-pox spares neither the young nor the old, and if a new-born
babe should unfortunately catch the disease, he will most likely die,
as at his tender age he would not have strength to battle with such a
formidable enemy. "A case, in the General Lying-in-Hospital, Lambeth,
of small-pox occurred in a woman a few days after her admission, and
the birth of her child. Her own child was vaccinated when only four
days old, and all the other infants in the house varying from one day
to a fortnight and more. All took the vaccination; and the woman's own
child, which suckled her and slept with her; and all escaped the small
pox." [Footnote: Communicated by Sir Charles Locock to the Author.]

51. _Do you consider that taking of matter from a child's arm weakens
the effect of vaccination on the system_?

Certainly not, provided it has taken effect in more than one
place. The arm is frequently much inflamed, and vaccinating other