Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-04-16
SMALLPOX and Vaccination.

The scourge of small pox, says the Sci-
entifc Anaericon has, it is well known,
visited the city of San Francisco during
the past season with frightful severity.
Fears have been expressed that it would,
in spite of the precautions taken to pre-
vent its spread, visit the large towns in
the Atlantic States. In view of these
facts we copy from the Pacific Medical
and Surgical Journal facts upon which
the public should be posted at all times,
and which are of special value upon a
threatened invasion of this horrible dis
ease.
"Small- -pox does not tend to spread ex-
tensively in city or district, unless quick
ened by an epidemic influence. 1t may
exist in a city constantly, from year to
year, few cases at time, without dis
playing an active contagion.
"During au epidemic aggravation re-
cent 0accin0tion 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 .o
"The duration Of an epidemic is from
six months to year. The disease seldom
progresses steadily, but auctuates without
relation to the sensible changes of climate
Winter is the season most fay0rable to its
prevalence.
"During an epidemic of small pox,
other diseases are more frequent and more
fatal.
"Foul emanations from sewers and so
forth have little to do with it. They af-
feet the general health, but do not pro-
mote in marked degree the spread or
duration of the epidemic.
"When the disease is not epidemic, the
morbiic germs emanating from patient
soon lose their vitality. But when an cpl
demic influence prevails, these germs re-
phere. They do not cause sickness un-
less the condition of the individual be fa-
vorable to their development. In an in
fected city, many persons-perhaps most
of the inhabitants-receive them in the
blood without injury.
"Disinfectants, 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 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
second time in more than one or two out
of every one hundred persons.
"Itwill take partially, with some re-
cor, h1anceq RI tha 0anuira oow.noY in
twenty-five per cent. of the cases. Here
the presumption is that re-vaccination was
useful.
"a large scar is no evidence of genuine
vaccination, nor is q large and painful sore
the genuine vaccina.
"When re-vaccination is not followed
by itching, or any other effect, it should be
repeated. The virus may not have been
active
no other matter should be employed
than the lymph or crust from the first vac
cination of healthy child; or that taken
from the cow. There is less uncertainty
In the former than the latter.
"The crust should never be kept long
after mixing it with water. 1t develops
virulent poison.
Evacuation of the pustules is advised,
not only to prevent pitting, but as possibly
serviceable in lessening danger from Sec
ondary fever, and as case in point it is
stated thus: An entirely unexpected re-
covery of very bad case was effected by
the patient opening of the pustules and
wiping-away of the matter by the wife Of
the patient, rapid Improvement taking
place at the time when the dreaded secon-
dary fever should have set in"