The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-12-02

lymph, certain precautions are necessary for
the safe and effectual performance of the op.
Grafton. This 1t should be the duty of the
family physician to attend to. Self-vacci-
nation, or vaccination performed by unpro-
fessional friends, unqualified to distinguish
the true sore or vesicle from that which is
spurious, affords but slight protection against
small poX. 1t Is at least uncertain. 1t may
be genuine and il may not. 1t is to this
cause that SO many reputed failures in the
conservative influence of vaccination are 10
be attributed, and that the process itself has
been regarded by many with suspicion and
distrust.
2. Reyaccination during the prevalence of
an epidemic, or after the lapse of eight or ten
years from the primary operation, is censid-
cred necessary. A scar upon the ann, tn
result of previous vaccination, affords No
certain evidence that the protective influence
is not lost. 1t has been observed that vacci-
nation performed during the active period of
an epidemic is apt tn be more severe in its
effects than under other atmospheric condi-
tions.
8. Virus obtained from the arms of revac-
cinated persons should never be employed.
There is no evidence that it possesses any
protective power.
a. With care in the selection of virus, the
danger in contracting the disease thereby
is reduced to minimum. IL is pretty GER
tain that only one disease ever has been in
trsduced by vaccination, and with ordinary
care this is impossible. 1t is better to avoid
virus taken from adults.
5. The dangers attributable to the opera
ton itself are too light to weigh against its
positive benefits. 1t has been estimated that
one serious accident may occur in one case
in 100000, certainly not more frequently
than would be expected from any similar
wound or abrasion of the skin. Properly
done, with due precaution as to the health
and vigor, and the age of the subject, and the
sources of the virus used, it may be conf
IDENTIFY affirmed to be altogether without
danger.
@. No so-called vaccination which does not
result in what is known as a characteristic
sore or vesicle, pursuing regular changes or
periods of development, is safely to be relied
upon. Not nfrequently the sore upon the
arm arising from the insertion of worthless
virus is even more severe than that resulting
from the genuine lymph. There is no other
method than that universally adopted of
making the insertion upon the abraded skin
or beneath the skin of some portion of the
body, which can, with any degree of safety,
be relied upon.
7. 1t is an interesting fact In the history OF
contagious diseases, aud one of great practi-
cal Importance, that q certain more or less
definite time intervenes between the recep-
tion OF the contagion and its manifestation
in the body Of the individual aaected-a Pc
Rod Of latency, called the period Of iucuba-
tion---during which certain processes are co
ing on in the system which are somehow
to. the development of the dis
ease. In smallpox this period may be stated
In a general way to be twelve days for the
beginning of fever, or fourteen for that of
the eruption; in the vaccine disease or cow
psx il is three or four days; and such is the
protective or antagonistic power of the latter
that If irs virus or contagion be inserted even
after exposure to smallpox, its shooter in
cubative period enables It to anticipate the
other, and If it do not altogether prevent it,
10 induce such deviation from its regular
course as to essentially modify 1t and deprive
1t Of It's greatest danger. Hence the impor-
lance of an early vaccination after exposure
to smallpox.
s. Bovine virus or that taken directly from
the COW, is fashionable, and, In consequence
of the excellent arrangements which have
been made by different parties, it can at all
times be obtained fresh and pure. 1t is re-
liable and 1t is to be recommended. Yet
there Is strong reason to believe, and such is
the opinion Of the highest authorities on this
subject, that hunanized virus, obtained from
the arm Of healthy child, loses none of Its
protective efficiency, even when prspagated
through generations.
PRECAU lions.
The Board urges attention to these sani-
tary rules:
1. Perfect isolation of the sick; removal
o, patients to the hospital, where only muses.
and attendants should be admitted, and these
to see no one without changing their cloth
ing and only after thorough disinfection.
2. All thoce exposed 10 the contagion
should be Immediately revaeclnated, even
though the experiment may have been un-
successfully tried only short time previous
ly.
8. Convalescing patients not to be allowed
to go out or communicate with people until
the crnsts have fallen Off and their clothing
has been renewed or disinfected.
4. After death from smallpox the bed.
carpets, curtains, and other ar
ticles In the room should be DESTROYED or
disinfected BY the method hereafter directed.
3. lnasmuch as the bodies of those dead
By smallpox are still infectious, they should
be disinfected, and public funerals should be
avoided.
0. Cleanliness in and about the dwelling.
and ventilation of the latter, afford efficient
aids toward the success Of other measures 10
prevent the spread Of this and other conta-
gious diseases.
RULES FOR DESTRUCTION.
The following are the rules I'm the main.
recommended by the National Beard of
Health:
The distinction between the dsInfectants
and decdorizers should be borne in mind.
The former neIltralize the germs Of conta-
gious or infectious diseases; the latter re-
move or destroy smells, o. substitute one
odor for another, and may or may not disiu-
feet. The former are therefore to be pre-
ferred.
The disinfectants proper to be used vary
With the object to be attained or the articles
70 be disinfccted.
or THE ARTICLES About rHE
PATIENT.
Disiafect the siseeis, towels, handkerchiefs,
BLANKETS and other articles used about the
Patent, g aesn = removed, b imnening