New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-02-09
THE HARD BATTLE WITH DISEASE.

OBSTACLES IN THE WORK OF THE HEALTH BOARD
AGAINST sMALI-POX-THE SENTIMENT OF THE
PEOPL"
To the LdttOr Of The Tribune
SIR: * moving that Vaccine Bureau was
established by The Beard Of Health last October with
ten or o gentlemen % MI H. and thlt some TWO
months az Or more additional physicians we're added
to the force for the special purpose OF fshtng small
pox nave been surprised notice by sanitary super
fa,endents report that tlis much-dreaded disease 10
really Oh Jae Increase aud little II any headway has
been mad. against 10. Before we Can estimate now
many ply > clans will be needed 10 cover the whole
ground W.. must ascertain how much work has been
done bv = @ 80 or 40 doctors OF the Vaccine Bureau
since its establishment; what is the present pOpu-
laton Of Network, ana Its annual rate OK in-
crease. I! one physician is only able 20 vac
euate ST. 20 people in day' We can
will SEQ tuss an immense corps will be Needed to per
form al tlt- work required My acquaintance with Dr.
TAYLOR In ectJr of Vaccination OF Tie Board OF Health
as well as Sth some OF the physicians employed under
MIN leads me to believe that this work done faith
fully and yton-cuty. far rs they have opportu
uity OF tt)ing But as Superintendent Day has
pointed oq there obstacles IN The way or
a universal vaccination, even among the population
which dwtll IN teuement-houses
Most people prefer 20 have their children vaccnated
by physicians with whom they acquainted, or at least
by doctorr who live in the neghborhoOd, and can be
called whom wanted. OChers skephcIl regarding
the purity OF tue lymph virus used by the Board OF
Health phgscia1s although there really no ground for
their guspci0ns. They naturally conclude that wRen
the "crusts" and lymph are collected from tenement
houses in all quarters OF the city, some OF 1t may be i'm
pure and II the child. after vaccination SHOWS any
erunon unon the skin in other parts or the body than
the arm. which IS by no means uncOmmou-the mother
becomes alarmed thinks her child OloOdpoisoned and
xuresses her fears all Of her neighbOrs. have had
mothers confess that rather than have their ch
dren vaccnated by the Board OF Health physicians
they have sent them away, stOuty maintained mat
they had been vaccinaed. II often happens that when
member OF the fascinating Corps calls at house he
ands the children or Of them too sick to be yacc
mated La other instances child may be too scrof
u,ous or strumOus condition; or there may
he a poverty OF blood, the result Of poor Diet
yitiated air, and bad living generally. II cm
dren in these conditions are vaccnaied, perhaps
the vaccine wound Is a long time IA healing up, and an
uqlv sore Is the result When this ia the ease the
is naturally alarmed and she gives her isars 70
otuers. A wholesale and tndlscrim nate vaccination
must be insisted upon, rs, II Attempted VIII 'ctNArlY
meet with much opposition Nevertheless me cry gov
ernment should 80 that every prccauuon Is taken
and II the Board Health has not the means AZ ls us
pOsa 10 prosecute work. hope the supplies vii! be
orhconiag Il Is really sin against tie "rigAten-
ent OF day TO allow person u have TIE small
pox when II can be 50 clsy prevented:
The pracutal question lG now shal we accotnpisn
such result. 1t to me this city might pr"htahy
be divided small districts, eacn u Do Hn'er tue care
az some recognized lOcaliy-fesiGent physicliu Tie
some strange mai iuJo their houses wnose only recon-
mendafion il his badge OF Ofcc Tnc whole town can
nat reuort 10 the Board of Health MOt'st., ana a
Young physician lives on TnigtYfou,t, AZ. IS not
available Tor the people who live Clinton, Henry, Or
caurd. Ds!aucy other streets. There are many
yuuu. ami peent physicians scattered throu2aout
NewYOtk wnUse practice Is not 50 large hat they can
devote sufficient time 10 the smallpox SUPERVISION OF
the tenenen poor people IN tAeir Districts
The attempt accomplish all TINS work b. one central
bu nav aud may not. Ia ant event, the dlin-
cuitles Superintendent Day has Indicated VIII exist.
As one Ol attcEGlng hy scians at tao steru Dis
peusary iutiinttI contact WIFI large IGmOcrs
OF mothers and trcu uence know somewhat n the
feeling this questUn It Is not GD Common Tor call
lrrn % DO brJug Tie Dispeas1ry WAC have been
yaccnatei corps tom the BO5r oi Heaiyh Per
haps The presents al ugly appearance tlie enid
seems sick the knows uOlhing 0l nc strange
yacruating doctor, and she flies cIscwhc.s relief
20 numerous pcsrrs IN rms cay ar capable OF
doing u great A tnls connection vi huu' c0-t 10
tue citY. Many Of ten 40 vAccna;e ae<r numbers L
cu rcn, ana utLrye tnry are capable Ci doi< good
slaEe OF Wort. II only proper arTtIG ai-hts gre
made. In event some organized p'au' "l'd SIal
enplny all tue to'co available lor TIE sui2ro'sod u
small pOx. shuuli b. insisted upon. . .
Aer York. Feb. u FULLER NALALi'' u ~