Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-14
- TO THE UBLIC

Tie prevalence of epidemic small -pox in Pbila
~ nyS NY ~ IeCent lItoptlon IN Various sections
measures for the protection OF citizens from its
ease conn unicated from the CIV TO me sn1 us
being by vaccination cOnfsrs protection from small
PGA i as convincing to-day as when promulgated
by Jebnel sinty nine years ago. The bs-tdigs.tal
reports OF recent date both in England and America
has' upon careful experiment. show that not only
has the mortality OF small pox greatly dmini shed
under proper systematIzed VACCINATION, but also
mat the epldenlcs oil that lolthsome disorder have
Teen rendered less yirueat in their u pc and les
frequent IN their occurrence.
, he Chronological ociety Of Great Britain has
CItaIy demonstrated that whereas in the half cen
Jury from 1870 to lSg0 there were ont OF eVery 1000
deaths from small po&; out of every loo deaths
1Stsl cases from tins disc did exceed S. On
the continent the proportion of deaths in every Oo
II ~ shh II pox before the introduction Of yaccina
ton Was COS after vaccination came into uss tse
Gtaths from this malady did not exceed Do.
In Ike manner IL has been shown when yaccina
Ton Is COLEHiGfy, and consequently neglected 10y
!ai &c numbers OF persons the proportion of deaths
sy siemaIic comp usory measures have been adop ed
The recent statements Of the Board OF Health Of
T. ON smallpox during the existing epidemic where
me evidence OF previous genuine vaccination has
Notwithstanding this array OF facts, il can not be
concea!ed that growing distrust prevails in the
Va, ciuston which has led TO a wide-s presi neglect
81 This necessary means OF prevention.
eror vigorous Efforts must Be- made hy esligsland
and others to substitute correct view, of
The secret of this lack of confidence in the prophv
latlc virtues OF vaccination is, doubtless in large
use OF vaccine matter Pure lymph. properly intro
oueed has not failed, for certain period at least to
shield the subject from small pox.
The Beard Of Health, at the risk Of being
IN view OF the proximity to borders OF
call upon all citizens TO avail themselves promptly
dde only means OF protection against the threat
entH Danger: The slightest cause may deyelnp the
epidemic bundle of rags a single garment I'M,
Iorted from the seat Of contagiOn, may light N n
disease which may spread through the whole Dis
We invoke then all, who value their health or the
in the honest effort now being made 70
community rom impending disaster.
a. me pI9ceedlngs thus far had upon this subject by
stOcd OF grossly mlsrepresented The law submitted
20 the at IT'S last session framed upon
lstDg ordinances both in Europe and America failed
10 pass, ana the Board therefore, had no power to
instead of being mandatory, was simply commenda
tory.
the shortest possible time, the poorer classes among
whom more wide spread neglect Of vaccination
become the earliest victims Of ii ipidemic '"0ie "
CONSIDERING that the physicif 5 to the poor were
ths 'geD' for the
District that these gentlemen should be invited to
report TO the Board Tor immediate instructions. The
Governor acqqiesced, the ply scians promptly pre-
scented themselves to The Board, and in the
rineing spirit which distinguishes the profession
No peremptory orders, as has been falsely stated
were made TO these gentlemen, requiring them 10 co
Their meeting with the Beard was more in the
folm OF conference, and, after an interchange Of
CT mmunicsted to them:
DISTRICT OF C9LUMBIA, BOARD OF HEALTH
WASHING TON, November z, ISL
To DR.. =, Physician to the Poor DLStrief
SIR: You are hereby instructed to proceed at once
yaccinate all the poor Of your district Who may re-
SnlrG Tacs &C and to report to this Board
iabOrs, including the number of persons vaccinated
by you Together With their respective names,
You viii also report, from time to time, the per
centsge of successful cases Of vaccination, with
statement OF any deviation from the ordinary pro-
gress and development of the vaccine vAscie as
Nell as description 81 any constitutional pecu-
liarity or morbid condition attending or TO lowing
the history of the yescle and any other information
connected herewith you may deem proper to com
nIunicate TO the Board of Health
Whenever possible to employ the vesicle existing
on the eighth day from the first appearance of the
by she formation Of the areels place you are
earnestly advised to do So the most ex perisnced
EsccinstoTs, including Jenner. having clearly
proved that the matter contained in the YES Gle at
that period is entirely pure, aud untanted By pus or
other Injurious cells which succeed the Da mmatory
You are especially requested to report the com
from injurious taints, whether of struma synbiIIis
other constitutional disease the vaccination
practicable such reliable crusts result from your
until they can be Transmitted to the Board
CHRIS. &. COZ D..
II twas also deemed advisable to inquire into the
condition ofthe public schools, in this respect in
the number Of unprotected pupils, and recon-
@ he SPtn aPd ETard
The idea Of directing the efficient Health Oflcer
Of the Board, TO whom was assigned the duty of
akiDg this inspection, to vaccnate offer 10 per
foT hat operation for the pupils is simply the in
yentlon of those who nothing in the Board 10 an
prove but everything to condemn. Nor was il ever
Rned that this gentleman shoHld enter schools or
TublC Institutions even for the purpose alluded TO-
unless by the consent and with the express permits
son y the trustees OF custodans of such schools or
dressed by the president of the b ard to such Off.
Gers, requesting their sanction of the proceeding
d lIng that every facility might be extended 20
re Health Ofcer III the discharge Of his duty The
Governor Of the District (whO is QkciO president
OF the Beard Of kducation,) with his customary
promVtusss and regard for the public welfare. con
united in recOrn ending that suitable assistance be
rendered the Health Officer in making the proposed
This explanation of the action of the Board e
Health upon the subject of vaccination seems de-
have been made, by which the motives and conduct
d1 Its members have been placed in false and dis
toTted attitude before the public,
tends firmly to perform it, and if the public Instead
OF sustaining, prefer TO antagOnze its honest efforts
lei the res possibility rest " here it belongs.
Gems of the Threatened danger and earnestly invoke
the headr Of families, the trustees Of public schools
ana charities; Indeed all classes of the community,
to aid in ayerting the possible rsvages Of an an.
CHRIS. C. cox, MD,
1t President Of the Bard of Health
Nv CENTRAL BUILDING ASSOCIATION,
S No 2.-The first monthly meeting of this
Association was held last evening, at the Columbian
Law bpildlnR 2lco shares Of stock we're paid on,