The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-01-10
SMALL POX.
Office WISCONSIN STATE BOARD OF HEALTH,
Appleton, November 18Th, lSIT-

These facts call for a renewal of word
Of advice, and of emphatic warning, from
the State Board Of Health. That such al
amount of suffering and the loss of so mani
valuable lives should have been caused by
a disease SO absolutely prermtabls, is ;
great reproach to the State, and fixes {
grave responsibility both upon the individ-
ual citizen and upon the legally constituted
Local Health Boards.
We reiterate our matured conviction as
set forth in our circular on this disease
dated December l6, 1876 that
I SMALL POX Is PRE-EHINENTLY PREVENT
ABLE DISEASE.
! That we possess the means by which we
may confden tly expect to keep it from our
homes, and from our communities, and that
it never comes to either, except as the
means known to be able to prevent it, have
been neglected. 1t can maintain con-
tinued existence anywhere, only through
the ignorance or obstlnacy of the people, or
the ineficency or criminal neglect of the
local Health Authorities.
Fully impressed with this belief, we
therefore urge upon the physicians and
they give to the lawful authorities such
moral and material support as will enable
Them 81 thon laGa 70
public opinion, to institute such measures
as Will serve TO arrest the progress of the
disease and to eradicate it from the State.
These measures are the thorough ISOLA-
IlON of every case that may occur, and
the careful
VACCINATION AND RE-YACCINATI0N
Ut all who are exposed. The uudersign-
ed have unqualified confidence in the pro-
tective power of thorough vaccination, be-
lieying that it can render to all persons,
PERFECT protection against any form of
variOlous dIsease-but TO secure this pro-
lection THREE conditions must be carefully
observed:
1st. The Vuus used must be rigorous
and pure. EDfeebled or detcriorated or
improperly selected virus may produce
spurious and wholly unpro tectng sores.
At best they give bat an imperfect devel.
opment of the vaccine disease, hence lead
to feeling Of false security, and not un-
frequently bring discredit upon the opera
ton.
We recommend the use of Bovine Virus
as being free from all objections, safe in all
cases, producing the maximum of protective
influence, and being always available in any
quantity needed.
ID. The operation must be skilfutly
and properly performed. The careless
and imperfect manner in which Vaccination
is often performed, and the utter lack of
watchfulness of the result, or edge as
to whether there has resulted genuine,
typical seslce, ls a grievous mistake. The
operation should be conscientiously perform
ed, and the development thereof carefully
observed until it is KNOWN to be prCtec-
tive.
Sd. Revaccination should be frequent
ly practiced to test the returning suscepti-
bility of the system to the Small Pox
Contagion.
By strict and universal observance of
fbnp r,,lna ha1; tbot L..
be stamped out of existence. To neglect
such rules is to endanger noV only the life
of him who negects them but also the lives
of those with whom he associates We
believe there is no valid excuse for such
neglect.
With regard to re vaccination the facts
are, that certain number of persons are
protected for life by one vaccination, while
tie protection of others extends to but a
limited and variable period Hence as we
are without the power to distinguish be-
| tween these classes, reYaccination is as es-
ssntal as primary operation and should
! he performed at least every 1--WE years. 1t
should also be performed at every season of
an epidemic diffusion of the disease.
| We recommend that Local Boards OF
| Health throughout the state, take measures
to secure the vaccinations of all children in
attendance upon the Public Schools, who
haye not been vaccinated within five years,
and that they use their influence to impress
this duty upon all citizens.
Should Small Pox unfortunately appear
in any community, we earnestly recommend
the adoption Of the following rules:-
ISOLATION.
Thoroughly isolate every case that may
occur, and keep it SO isolated until ell dan
ger that the disease can be communicated
is past If the patients be kept in a private
house, it is better that che uppermost room
Of the house be used for the purpose
every person in the vicinity should at ono
be vaccinated without any regard to an,
previous operation.
In case of death, the funeral and buria
should be conducted with the strictest pri
vacy, and should be under the direction O
the Health Officer.
DISTINCTION.
At the close of the disease, articles whic
can be so treated, should be 6isinfected b
being subjected to the action of boilin
water, or may be baked in an oven at
emrerature of not less than 2l2 degrees
Heat effeetually destroys the poison germ
Such articles as cannot be SO treated shout
remain 10 the room after the removal of th
patient and be subjected to
SULPHUROUs FUaIGATIoE,
which is effected by placing about 3 pound
Of sulphur in a safe and convenient yesse
in the room with the doors, windows an