The Placer herald., 1868-12-05
s HALL. P O K.

Smallpox 10 The result Of sspecifc morbid
poison working in The system, which is repro.
ducsd during lbs course Of the disease. 1t
is accompanied by certain symptoms, and
peculiar eruption upon the skin. When this
specific poison 10 absorbed and infec's the
blood. period Of laseney occurs which is
termed the stage or period Of incubation.-
This period Of incubation lasts from ten to
sixteen days usually thirteen or ,fourtsen).
Then the disease proper commences BY fever
which lasts up TO the appearance Of The erup.
ton, and is called the secondary stage. The
ordinary duration of this fever is four days;
il may be sudden 10 ito attack, or be preceded
by great tendency to vomiting, dro~siness,
and oppression Of the brain, and severe mus.
cular pains, resent bling Rhsumat atism, especially
in the small Of the back. Also u many cases
there is severe sore throat. After four days
Of this fever, the third stage or period Of
eruption commences, when the fever, and the
other severe symptoms accompanying it usu'
ally cease for the time being.
The eruption fret appears in small, bright.
red pimples on the face, neck, and uper sx-
tremities, then 90 the body, and lastly on the
second ur third day Of the eruption, change
into vesicles or little blis,ers, which contain
a clear whey 'coIorsd 6ud; these vesic|es con.
.iuus three or four days and then ripeu into
pu.tuIes which contain yellow matter. The
number Of these pustulss varies according
10 the severity Of the case, from dozen or
two to some hundreds or thousands. There
is great swelling Of The whole face, head,
and neck, the syslids often closing entirely,
and binding the patient. After abont two
days more, or about the eighth day Of the
eruption. the pus.ules rupture and matter ex
udes which dries and forms into scabs or
crusts. During the oxidation Of matter the
pustule shrivsls and dries up. The crust is
detached between the eleventh and fourteenth
days leaving the skin beneath Of dark red
ish brown hue, which lasts for many days or
weeks. On The face, the pustuls often pene'
,rates or burrows under the skin. which. upon
the cessation Of the liberation, leaves per-
mansut scar or "pi..
At about the eighth day secondary
fever occurs which lasts during tho period of
suppuration, or maturating, ard then ceases.
With the falling off Of the crus!s, about the
fourteenth day. the disease terminates.
The cause Of the disease 10 obscure, though
there are many reasons TO believe that it
fret originated in some Of the lower animals,
from them extended 20 the human species. 1t
is communicated from one person 10 another
through immediate contact Of the body, by
breathing the infected atmosphere. or in any
way coming under the Influence Of the germs
of The poison which exist in the exhaIa,ions
from the secretons ofthe body Of the patient
The poison is carried in the clothing Of the
patient, the bedding. in The scabs which fall
from the body. &c. These poisonous germs
may exist for years even uui'npaired The
disease is probably generated in the suffering
patient during alIstages. and is most danger
Gus when most noticeable 10 the sense Of
smell. 1t extends for quito distance around
the patient. and it is, therefore, unsafe to even
enter the same bouse, or come in contac,
with him in the street.
1t should be borne in mind that this dread
disease is one which cannot be cut shor,
when established, but must run lis course
Much may, however, be done to mitigate the
sutferings Of the patient and render less dan
gerous aud unsightIy The consequences result.
ing from the ravages Of the poison.
In the treatment Of the disease, so far as is
possible, free eruption should be prevented.
No beating drinks should be given to force
GU. the eruption. The dict should be light,
consisting Of erusls. ripe fruits. DC. The
room in which the patient lies should be cool
and we'll ventilated, the edclo,hing light,
and kept scrupu'ously clean. The prevention
of Smallpox is partially to be secured by
the use Of powerful disiufectants, The only
reliable means, however, for its prevention is
10 be found in vaccination, This canno, be
too forciby brought to the attention Of the
public-as to that alone can We look for safe
ty from a most terrible scourge.
For sixty .eight years has vaccination been.in
constant use for the prevention ofSmsIlpox.
DR.. Jenner made the discovery that certain
eruptve disease affecting the .eat and udders
of cows was often communicated to the milk
ers Of the cows. and when thus attacked with
what he called "Cow.pox," they escaped the
infection Of Smallpox, and thus occurred the
idea Of introducing it purpossIy, into The hu.
man system by what 10 called "vaccipatiop."
The protective influence Of vaccination has
been abuudautly proved by The results at.
tending its general practice. The most
stringent laws have been enacted at various
times by the European Governments COM
pe|ing general vaccination. These have
been productive Of the greatest good. In
England out Of every 1000 deaths in the
halfcentury from 1850 to 1900 there were
96.deasbs from Small pox and out ofevery
1000 deaths 10 the haIfcentury from 1900
TO 1850 there we're only 35 deaths from
Smallpox.
.Also in Germany, statistics prove that out
Of every 1000 deaths before vaccination was
used 86 were deatha from Small pox but
that out Of every 1000 deaths after maecin-
tion was enforced. the deaths from Small pox
we're only 7. Thus it is proved that where
vaccination is most perfectly carried out
Smallpox is least mortal. Another import
E.. A.