The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-12-18
SMALL POX.
SALT LAKE Cry, Dec. Il, 1881.

SAIG 14AAh OAA . OSNs AZ ASOA'
Editors Herald:
There seems to prevail all over the
country a tendency to the spread OF
small pox.
Here and there, single case proves
focus from which rsdiates numer-
Gus others, and in some places the
dread disease seems to nave Ssettled
down to stay. There is no possible
excuse for this state of affairs, for il
there is any one thing that is dem
onetrate6 by!experience, il is that 10
vaccination we have thorough pro-
lection provided thst the vaccination
is thorough.
True there may be here and there q
case in which vaccination fails to
protect from a mild form OF Variol0id
but so there sometimes occur cases OF
varioloid after the patient has had
true variols, as the writer had oc-
.casiou to witness when in charge Of
q small pox hospital in 1871.
Two OF the patients we're scanned
with the scars of small pox, and both
had severe attacks OF varioloid,
But there does not remain the
shadow of doubt as to the protection
offered By vaccination as general
rule.
Neither need there be fear OF i'm
pure virus, for the numerous vaccine
forms at present N active operation
yield an abundance OF true bovine
virus at prices so moderate as to leave
nothing to bedesired, and the fears so
often entertained, of transmitting
blood poisons from impure persons TO
the subjects OF vaccination need no
longer exist. Still single vaccin
alton may not protect in all cases.
hence the anecessity of frequent re-
vaccination till the system will no
longer respond to the action of the
virus. proving that the protection Is
complete.
In order tC make assurat &c d0ubly
sure, it ia always beat to follow a first
vaccination by. a second shortly after
the frat, and if it takes" follow on
by revaccinations tiil the blood no
longer responds to the virus. Re-
vaccinations are proper st short in
tervals during the life 0! every one
who has not had small pox or
varioloid..
Vaccination should be compulsory,
and neglect of it, severly punished.
lfr1nro 10 - n
as small pox, should be stamped out
OF the list of pestilences. and 1t can
only be done bs governmental au
tperity to De effective. and there is
no means of doing it only by com
puls0ry vaccination.
The age when ignorance and stoljd
stupidity can be permitted to
ieopardize public bea!th and the
lives of the community has passed,
and the time for conforming TO the
laws OF health willingly and intel.
ligently has come.
We must eTGca'e the public mind
up to knowledge OF the fact that no
amount of personal cleanliness or
municipal care OF the surroundings
of the individual will protect him
from small pCx.
In relation 70 vaccination practised
after a person has been exposed to
the infection OF mall pox, it seems
to be pretty well settled, that to be
effective in protecting the party ex.
posed, it must be done within FIVE or
ak days after the exposure.
The iDcubative stage of small pox
is twelve days from the exposure. and
ell vaccinations performed after the
10 iddle period of incubation fail TO
protect or even change the disease to
vsrioloid.
It is well to have in mind, that IN
all cases of of vaccination after ex
posure to infection. none bat human
lied virus should be used, il it gan be
obtained, because its period of incu-
baton 10 shorter, and it natures three
days sooner than bovine virus.
The above items are copied from
very able treatise on.small pox, by the
editor OF the North Western Lancet,
and as from appearance We nsy be
threatened with a small pox wave in
the,Dear future, they may not be unin-
terestipg to your numerous readers.
Respectfully,
a. ? YOUNG M y