The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-16

| case, Dut not slCh euouSu w no'e
physician, and hence his case was not
reported. All in this house was vac
cinated and escaped.
At present there are but two cases oi
varioloid within the city limits, both o1
which are convalescing, and will be dis
charged in the next few days.
The foregoing record Of cases which
have recently occurred among US,
ought to convince any reasonable mind
of
THE PROTECTIVE POWER OF VACCINATION.
In the language OF DR.. William c.
Roberts, of New York, mo such speci-
fic boon has ever been youchssfed by
the Creator to suffering humanity"
And vet it is wonderful with what
apathy it's incompatible benefits are re-
garded by the public. The recent his
tory OF smallpox in Wheeling. even if
there was no additional evidence on
record, abundantly attests the value Of
vaccination. properly employed, as a
sure preventive Of a loathsome disease
which makes "the victim terrible and
repulsive to his nearest and dearest
friends"
1t has been seen that in the seven
teen families in which the contaglon
found foothold and was discovered, that
it was literally stamped out by vaccina-
tiou and revaccination. And further,
that the victims of the disease, save
in but one instance, had either not
been vacclnnated at all, or II
vaccinated in infancy or childhood, had
passed the period OF puberty without
being revaccinated, while in no case did
death occur except in the unvacclnated.
1t is therefore OF the greatest import
ance that revaccindtion should be per-
formed on "all persons at the age Of
about sixteen years"
wHY PHYSICIANS DO NOT TAKE THE DIS
EASE
is constantly wondered at BY their
patients and the public. Genuine vac
cination and re-vaccination is their con-
fident protection, not only for them
selves but also for their families. | be-
lieve there is not a physician in Wheel
ing who has had the smallpox, yet we
hesitate not to 90 into the very midst of
this terrible contagion, handle our pa
tients. and succor them when abandon
ed by their relatives and friends. The
quality OF protection which we possess
is freely offered, without distinction, to
every citizen, and its acceptance should
be made compulsory. What more right
has a man to kill his neighbor, his wife,
or his child, with the contagion OF small
pox than to take life with Concealed
weapon" the carrying Of which is an
offense against the law? The State
should interfere and protect her citizens
Municipal government is not without
responsibility in securing complete pro-
lection. Segregation of the sick is abso-
lutely essential in preventing the spread
of smallpox, and to accomplish this
hospitals are provided, Unfortunately
Wheeling presents no such advantages,
and
THE WANT oFA SMALLPOX HOSPITAL
greatly endangers the community. Such
nu establishment should at once be
provided, so that unfortunate strangers
who may come among US afflicted with
the disease, as well as those OF our own
citizens who fall victims and have no
permanent home, or immediate friends
to care for them, may be humanely
treated, without endangering a whole
Certainly it cannot be
desired that the entertainment OF the
poor patient from Cincinnati, who was
cared for be the city on the Island,
shall be repeated. What if a case of
smallpox should occur in the city Lock-
up or in the county Jail? Where
could the patient be sent? And who
knows that such case will not occur ?
Indeed, the necessity for a public hos
pital-if only a shsd-is pressing, and it
is sincerely to be hoped that house for
such purpose shall be secured or con.
structed without further delay.
JAMES E. REEVES, NJ. D.,
Whistler strsst. Centre WhseEu1.