Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-08

Reading Matter on Every Page
WASHINGTON CITY:
IHCkSDAY.. May s, 1873.
How 10 Deal with SMALLPOX.

AS from some cause the city OF New York has
been rather exceptionally successful in warding
of the smallpox, OF at least Of preventing il
from getting the epidemic hold there il has
obtained in other large cities, it is a matter of
some interest to know the course pursued by
the health officers of that city.
In the late important meeting of the "Amer-
lean Public Health Association" at Cincinnati.
DIR. james read a paper giving the method of
dealing with the small pox adopted by the
health authorities in New York, and which has
stood the test of the two years during which the
disease has been more or less prevalent there.
The first active measures adopted by the board
OF health Of New York was in the spring of 1869.
at which time system of house to house vac
cinatior was inaugurated, and a special corps
OF vaccinating physicians organized to prose-
cute The work. This continued through the
month of May of that year, during which so 900
vaccinations and revaccinations were per-
formed, by corps of about sixty physicians.
The result attending this effort, although not
equal in the number of vaccinations to the
work of subsequent years, is well worthy of
notice a the first successful introduction of
house to house vaccination in the city of New
York, BY which the public mind was
in a great measure disabused of the oppo-
sit1On hitherto felt toward that particular
method, and educated to something like
To the degree of protection so far secured was
added the vigorous measures adopt by the
health authorities upon the appearance of the
disease in form threatening an epidemic
Without delay a vaccinating corps was organ
lied, of sufficient numbers to extend the bene-
fits OF vaccination to every portion of the city
Not only was the system of house to house vac
cination resumed, by which all Of the tenement
house districts were thoroughly canvassed, but
schools, asylums, factories, printing houses,
stores, and, indeed, all large places of business
or places where numbers of persons were en-
gagged. either in labor or study, were sought out,
and the inmates of each persuaded to avail
themselves of this gratuitous offering. In this
way, during the winter of 1S11-2, more than
100000 vaccinations and revaccipations were
performed by agents of the health department
alone, which, when added to what was done by
private and dispensary physicians, swells the
amount TO an aggregate sufficient to greatly
modify the severity Of the epidemic by depriv-
ing it OF so large an amount OF susceptible ma
terial.
The undOubted efficacy of vaccination in the
prevention of small pox was shown in repeated
instances Of the only person in a crowded
tenement house who refused vaccination
becoming the victim of the disease, while
all the others escaped With view of prevent
ing the Communicating OF this contagion to
Others. it is essential that the patient be SO
isolated as to absolutely preclude at all times
the presence of any one except the nurse, who
should also be cautioned against intercourse
with others while in the discharge of this duty
1t is not only for the safety of friends that are
likely to came in contact with the patient that
isolation is necessary, and its observance en-
forced, but it Is well known that such persons
may be the vehicle by which the infection is
conveyed to Others, while they themselves es-
cape; and as public safeguard it is equally
important that the protected, as well as the un-
protected, be rigdly prevented from any per-
sonal communication with those who are suffer
ing with this disease.
Ii has been demonstrated that the infection
may be conveyed from place to place by cloth
ing; it adheres to bedding, carpets, upholstered
furniture and plaStered walls, and even the
physician in his brief visit, without proper pre-
caution, may convey the infection to the next
patient who requires his services. According
to the experience OF the New York health an
thorites, it is not safe to allow case of small
pox to remain in a house occupied by other
persons who are daily mingiing with the busy
world unless there be facilities for perfect isOla-
ton. Therefore, tenement houses in large
titles become pest houses to some extent at
east, from the fact that the necessary isolation
cannot be enforced. People who occupy this
class Of dwellings are, as a rule, either ignorant
Of the danger they incur, or needless of its con-
sequences, and hence, feeling themselves Sc
cure by vaccination, or by previously having
had the disease, they unhesitatingly expose
themselves to the infection, to the detriment
OF some person with whom they after ward as
sociate.
That the case is a mild one, is, if possible A
stronger reason In favor Of removal, from the
fact that such patients cannot be properly con-
AT
they are impatient at what they consider an un
necessary confinement, and, recognizing the
Interests of none but themselves they If possi-
Die, conceal the malady, and mingIe indiscri-
hinateiy with others, regardless of all conse
quenees- BY this class of patients 1t is believed
that all public eonveyances are often infected
and even public assembly NAV have i'm its
midst what, to use the simile of Sir James T..
simpson, will destroy more lives than would a
hger or rattlesnake appearing suddenly in
ther midst. The attempt at isolation of a pa
uent In a tenement house renders il necessary
that children belonging to the same house be
kept from school and church until the time for
conveying contagion has expired and the prem-
lses shave been thoroughly purified. 1t has been
the rule, therefore, in New York to notify
teachers or the presence OF small pox at the
houses Of any OF their pupils, that they NAV
take the necessary action.
The patient should not only be quarantined
but measures should be Immediately taken to
destroy the infectious poison; and for this pur-
pose nothing has proved more efficient
than impregnatlng the atmosphere of the sick
room. and the adjoining halls, with the vapor
Of earbolie acid, in such strength that it can be
respired without annoyance. This may be done
by hanging cloths wet with the solution In
different portions of the room, or by means of
an atomizer, through which, from time to
time, spray of the solution may be thrown
into the room and around the patient. Anoint-
ing the patient with ointment of which
carbolic acid forms an ingredient Is also a
means Of destroying contagion, both by the
disinfeeting property OF the acid, and prevent
Ing the escape Of dried particles Of animal
matter from the cutaneous surface into the
atmosphere during DISCRIMINATION. The
disinfecting solution mentioned, and that which
IS adopted by the health department of New
York, consists OF one ounce carbolic acid, eight