Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-04-16
SMALLPOX and Vaccination.

The scourge of small pox, says the Sci
cHtifc american, has, it is well known,
visited the city of San Francisco during
the past season with frightful severity.
Fears have been expressed that 1t would,
Ia spite Of the precautions taken to pre-
vent lis spread, visit tho large towns in
the Atlantic States In view of these
facts we copy from the Pecifc NedicM
and SuTgicM Journal facts upon which
the public should be posted at all times,
and which are of special value upon
threatened invasion of this horrible dis
ease.
"Small pox does not tend to spread ex-
| tensively in city or district, unless quick
eued by an epidemic influence. 1t may
exist in city constantly, from year TO
| year. a few cases at a time, without dis
| playing an active cOntagion.
During an epidemic aggraVation re-
! cent vaccination is the only safeguard.
Persons who have had smallpox, or who
have been exposed To it in former years
with impunity, as nurses and the like, are
not secure from attack.
"The duration Of an epidemic is from
/ six months To a year. The disease seldom
progresses steadily, but huctuates withoNt
| relation to the sensible changes of climate
| Winter is the season most favorable 10 its
! prevalence
"During an epidemic Of small poX,
other diseases are more frequent and more
| fatal.
Foul emanations from sewers ard so
forth have little 10 do with IL. They af
feet the general health, but do not pro
mote in a marked degree the spread or
! duration of the epidemic
| "When the disease is not epidemic, the
morbiiic germs emsnating from patient
soon lose their vitality. But when an epi-
dcmic influence prevails, these germs re-
sist decay and infect the entire atmOs-
! phere. They do not cause sickness un-
less the condition Of the individual be fa-
vOrable to their development. In an in
] iected city, many persons-perhaps most
\ OF the inhabitants-reeeiVe them in the
blood without injury. ..s.
"Disuftctants, such as chlorine, car
bollc acid, the fumes of sulphur, etc, will
not destroy the germs of smallpox, un-
less they are strong enough TO destroy
human life. Sunlight, air, and heat are
the best disinfectants Clothing Is per
! fectly disinfected by baking in an oven, or
| exposure for a short time to heat at or
above that Of boiling water. -
"The period OF most active contagion
is after the appearance Of the eruption
and during the process of scabbing 1t Is
questioned by some good authorities
whether the disease is contagious at all
! prior to the formation of pustules.
Vaccination will not take perfectly a
second time in more than one or two out
of every one hundred persons.
at will take partially, with some re-.
semblances 10 the genuine cow.pox, in
twenty five per cent. of the cases Here
the presumpigu'ia that re Yaccipaeon was
/ useful.
a. -" Alarge scar is no evidence OF genuine
vaccination, nor is a large and painful sore
A spurious pustule is apt TO be worse than
tbe'genuine vaecinA q ct IAHN
"When re.vaccinstion is not followed
by itching, or any other effect, itshould be
repeated The virus may not have been
active
"No other matter Fbould be employed