Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-11-01
SMALLPOX.
Meeting of the State Board of Health
An Address to the People.

towards the development OF thus disease
throughout the State, as in the Eastern
States. The Secretary said that ac-
counts of it had been received from Co
lusa county, one case; Sacramento county,
five cases near fremont, Solano county, six
cases Dixon. one case. All these cases
were due directly or indirectly to immigra-
| tion from Chicago. After discussion Of the
matter, the Board resolved that the city
Board of Health of Sacramento be requested
to ask the City Physician TO inspect the emil
grant trains from the East at or near the
American river bridge. Should any case Of
smallpox be found, to quarantine the car or
cars on the track along the east leyee. Also
that the railroad authorities be requested to
CO operate with the Board to that end. 1t
was stated that Superintendent Pratt, of the
Sacramento Division, had promised the aid
OF his department in all reasonable measures.
Should it thereafter be found necessary, it
was decided to confer with the Supervisors
of Placer county, requesting them to order
an inspection of the enigrant cars at Rose
vile.
The Secretary stated that he had issued a
second edition of the circular or vaccination,
adding thereto certain sanitary rules to be
observed during the prevalence of smallpox.
In connection with this subject OF measures
for the prevention of the spread of contagious
diseases, the insuficiency of the law was very
much regretted, and it was understood that
vigorous effort will be made to remedy its
defects when the Legislature again meets.
The circular Of the Board has been mailed to
the press of the State quite generally, with
the hope that the same will be given general
publicity. The Board then adjourned sub
ject to call
THE CIRCULAR.
The circular referred to in the foregoing
proceedings recites that smallpox epidemies
recur at sufficiently distinct periods after toll
erably well-defned periods of rest-though not
accurate-to warrant the belief that after the
period of rest California is low in danger of
q spread of the disease, and points out the
necessity for vaccination of all who have not
been vaccinated, and reyaccination of those
who have been vaccinated long time since.
It is a conceded fact in the history of vac
cination that, in very many cases, the i'm
munity it affords is only limited, or for a time.
Perfect while it lasts-as perfect, it is be-
lieved, as previous attack of smallpox it
self-the duration of the insusceptibility
varies with different individuals. Though in
some instances it isunquestionably permanent
through life, it is safe to say that revaccina-
ton should always be tried after the expira-
ton of eight or ten years, or otherwise, when
ever during the prevalence of smallpox
it is desirable to be assured of protection.
The Board therefore urges general resort to
revaccination to ward off if possible any gen.
eral spread of this loathsome disease, and so
rob it of its terrors. The Board calls especial
attention to these general rules, the value Of
which has been demonstrated by the expert.
ence of the medical profession
l. The virus should be Of known purity.
XHhalbar -, fba fopro or IriaI ar
lymph, certain precautions are necessary for
the safe and etfectual performance of the
operation. This it should be the duty of the
family physician to attend to. Self-vaccina-
ton, or vaccination performed by unprofes-
sional friends, unqualified to distinguish the
true sore or vesicle from that which is spuri-
GUS, affords but slight protection against
smallpox. 1t is at least uncertain. 1t may
be genuine, or it may not. It is to this cause
that so many reputed failures in the conser-
vative influence of vaccination are to be at.
tributed, and that the process itself has been
regarded by many with suspicion and dis
trust.
2. Revaccination during the prevalence of
an epidemic, or after the lapse of eight or ten
years from the primary operation, is consid-
cred necessary. A scar upon the arm, toe
result of previous vaccination, affords no
certain evidence that the protective influence
is not lost. 1t has been observed that yacci-
nation performed during the active period Of
an epidemic is apt to be more severe in its
effects than under other atmospheric condi-
tious.
8. Virus obtained from the arms OF revac-
cinated persons should never be employed.
There is no evidence that it possesses any
protective power.
4. With care in the selection of virus, the
danger of contracting disease thereby is re-
duced to minimum. 1t is pretty certain
that only one disease ever has been intro
duced by vaccination, and with ordinary care
this is impossible. 1t is better to avoid virus
taken from adults
). The dangers attributable to the operation
itself are too light to weigh against its posi-
tive benefits. 1t has been estimated that one
serious accident may occur in one case in
100, coo; 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 yigor,
and the age of the subject, and the source of
the virus used, it may be confidently affirmed
to be altogether without danger.
6. No so-called vaccination which does not
result in what is known as characteristic
sore or vesicle, pursuing regular changes or
periods of development, is safely to be relied
upon. Not infrequently 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 car, with any degree of safety,
be relied upon.
z. 1t is an interesting fact in the history OF
contagious diseases, and one of great practi.
cal Importance, that certain more or Jess
definite time intervenes between the recep.
ton Of the contagiou and its manifestation
| in the body of the individual Affected
period of latency, called the period CT incu-
bation-during which certain processes are
going On in the system which are somehow
preparatory to the development of the dis.
ease. In smallpox this period may be stated,
in general way, to be twelve days for the
beginning of fever, or fourteen for that of the
eruption; in the vaccine disease or cow-pox,
it is three or four; and such is the protective
or antagonistic power of the latter, that if its
virus or contagion be inserted even after
exposure to smallpox, its shorter incubative
period enables it to anticipate the other and,
if it do not altogether prevent it, to induce
such deviation from its regular course as to
essentially modify it and deprive it of its
! greatest danger. Hence the Importance oi
an early vaccination after exposure to small
pox.
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 reli
! able, and it is to be recommended. Yet there
| is strong reason to believe, and such ia the
/ opinion of the highest authorities on this sub
! jsct, that humanized virus, obtained from the
arm of healthy child. loses none of its pro
tective efficiency, even when propagateC
| through generations.
PRECAUTIONS.
The Board urges attention to these sani
tsry rules
i. Perfect isolation of the sick; removal Of
patients to the hospital, where only nurses
and attendants should be admitted. and these
to see no one without changing their clothing
and only after thorough disinfection.
2 All those exposed to the contagioI
should be Immediately reyaccinated, ever
though the experiment may have been unsuc
cessfully tried only e short time previously.
3. Convalescing patients not to be allowed
to go out or communicate with people unti
the crusts have fallen eff and their clothing
has bean renewed or disinfected.
4. After death from smallpox the beds
bed-clothes, carpets curtains and other arti
cles in the room should be destroyed or dlsln
feeted by the method hereafter directed.
D. Inasmuch as the bodies of those deat
by smallpox are still infectious, they should
be disinfected, and public funerals should be
avoided.