The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-03
;smnIl.PDx-IEoW tho Disease was Elk
terminated ire Lowell, Mass.
+Boston Transcript.

SDlaIl.pDX-1hOW tho DiScasc was Ex
terminated Ire Lowell, Mass.
fEoston Transcript
It will be rccollccted that during the spring
of 1871 the smallpox was alarmingly prcTa-
lent in the city Of Lowell, and an efficient
Board of Health was not organized till the
middle of September. This board-frcd-
crick Aver, chairman, and Able L. Athcrton,
secretary in consultation all the lead
ing physicians i'm the place, and proceeded
vigorously TO cXtcrmnatc the disease, which
they cflcct,mlly accomplished in about six
weeks. Their official report to tie city gov
eminent gives in detail the programme
adoptcd in battling with the contagion, and
from this document we make the following
extracts:
The work Of isolation was commenced i'm
mcdiatcly by removing as many Of the most
exposed cases rs the hospital would accom-
modatc. aud by placing signals and police TO
prevent communication with each remaining
case. 1t became evident that complete isola-
ton in the streets Of our city was next to
impossible, and additional hospital accom-
molationS were provided, when all existing
cases that were movable were removed, and
all new cases were removed rs soon rs re-
rortcd. The removal or dismissal Of each
ease was followed by the destruction Of ma
lrra and most thorough iumSation of per-
sons and premises.
The wagon and bedding used for convey
in~ patients were thoroughly iumi%atcd after
each trip, and before they were returned to
the city. 4 snOkc.housc was established
adjoining the board of health Office in which
physicians and other persons known TO have
been lmndIing patients or visiting infected
place. were required to he fum,@atcd to pre-
ven: exposure to other people In fact, every
rrcraution that could be suggested to pre-
vent the spread OF the disease was adopted
aud enforced. The result of this cunr"n-
traicd action is shown in the complete cXl"r
animation Of the epidemic, and almo>t entire
c;idcation of the disease, and, in short, i
due:
Fist. To the prompt report Of eases and
suspected eases to the board.
%ccond. 70 the removal and isolation of all
,.,."s Is soon rs reported.
Third. TO The Immediate destruction or
Through rtrmgaion of all Infected material,
AND the thorough lulnigation of all infected
persons aud premises.
Fourth. TO every o'hcr precautionary
measure to prevent the spread o, Tie di>ct>c
lhtt could lac devised and
i'li. TO vaccination.
The report Of The consulting physicians.
made Ivy Dr>. Allen. kimball, and Graves.
gives an Interesting history Of the epidemic
aud The medical action TO c0untcract il, and
states the following results:
oar experience in dealing with the pre-
sent epidemic compcls us to place isolation
before vaccination. The latter has not
seemed to afford that protection which has
usually been ascriOCd to il. At particular
,tl@rs of the epidemic this agency did not
arrest the progress Of the disease rs was en-
-, L., -.
prevented persons. apparently well vaccinl-
ted, from having Il violent and, in several
instances, Il fatal attack of the smallpox. A
careful examination of quite Il number of
very grave cases, ut the hospital, distinctly
showed marked cicatriceS--sOmc large. well
ri;Icd, and made, as the patients said, by
innnrulalion from the smallpox itself, or
10y virus from the cow-poX. Still, there
were other patients where the disease
WAS much moditied-rendcrcd lighter
in form or shorter in duration-by the
effects of vaccination. Then In many i'll
Stances where individuals Gncluding several
inlant>l We're subjected to the greatest en-
posture, aud had recently been successfully
rtrcinated, they were perfectly protected.
But the most striking proof of the protec-
ton Of vaccination has been found on the
corporations. Under the direction of their
agents II more systematic and thorough
course of vaccination has been pursued
among the operatives and others connected
with the mills than elsewhere in our city.
1.-The rule has always been to remove
every case Of smallpox or varioloid to the
corporation hospital rs soon rs discovered.
From the commencement Of this epidemic,
in February, only forty-nine persons have
been taken TO the corporation hospital from
ha mil hnu in nd in in
stance have other parties, exposed at the
time, taken the disease. Twenty of these
forty-nine were female operatives, and only
two died. 1t is true, however. that some
operatives not boarding III the corporation
hoaruing.houSeS have been carried to the city
hospital, and, prior to September -. have
had the disease in their own homes, but this
number is not large AS those connected in
solnc way with the mills comprise one-third
or more of the population Of the city, the
pruportionate number sick with smallpox
or vnioloid has been relatively very small.
"Of two things We are more fully con-
WINGED than eyer-iirSt, of the frequent i'm
perfection of vaccinations, either i'll the NAH
ncr Of doing it, or some defect in the virus
used; and second, IN The absolute necessity
oil reyacrination. This Is indispensable.
Let lis adopt either Of the theories on yacci-
nation--tirst, that its protective power grad
ually diminishes with the changes taking
place in the human body, and, therefore, to
test It's continuance, revaccination becomes
occasionally necessary or the second theory,
that frequently the first vaccination may not
tc complete, and, therefore. it should soon
be repeated and continued until it produces
no effect. Then its protective power con-
tlnue> for life.
Complete isolation was regarded, in the
outset as IN indispensable measure, and cX-
4 ir,icncc has shown that this could only be-
by removal to the hospitals"
- A Louisiana sheriff h,s fitted up Il gullo-
tine.