Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-30
The SMALL ox Excitement.

The Small POx Excitement.
The smallpox, which has been pre-
vaiIiue in epidemic form in the North
and West for some time past, seer s,
from the tone of our recent dispatches,
to be increasing in virulence. Especially
is this the case in the West, as the tele-
graph informs US that in Dakota Terri
tory it has assumed a peculiarly violent
aud fatal form. The victims frequently
die in twenty-four hours after being
attacked, and it is stated that, in many
cases, blood gushcs from the eyes. ears
and noses of the sufferers, and the dis
ease psrtakes more of the nature of the
plague than of the smallpox. The health
authorities in the cities of the regions
affected are exerting themselves to the
utmost to keep the disease in check, but
in spite Of their efforts it still continues
its rsvsges.
So far the South has been fortunate
enough to escape the disease, and there
is not the slightest cause for alarm in our
section at present. Nevertheless it be
hooves our people to guard against flu
ture contingencies. and take all steps
possible to prevent a visitation of the
lOathsome and dreaded malady.
The first step to be taken in this direc-
ton is to heed the admHnitions of the
Sanitary Board of this city, and of the
physicians generally in other cities re-
garding vaccination. There is among
many persons a decided, but for
the most part unreasonable, preju-
dice against such measure.
Nevertheless experience has con
clusively proven that vaccination is
the only sure preventive against the dis
ease, and that, with sufficient care 10
inOculate the system with healthy virus,
no injurious results can follow its adop
ton. There is no disease in the world
more disagreeable and lOathsOme in lis
character and more to be dreaded in its
effects than is this plague, since even
should the victim of it be fortunate
enough to escape death, he or she is very
frequently left by it disfgured for life.
Far better is it then to risk the imagined
evil effects of vaccination than to permit
oneself to remain liable to an attack of
so dreaded a scourge, should 1t ever
make its appearance in our midst.
Proper sanitary precautions against
the disease are also absolutely necessary.
These are mainly ventilation of houses
so that pure, fresh air may have con-
slant ingress through windows and doors
INTO dwellings the judicious use of
disinfectants Snd preventive agents.
These precautions are, of course, neces-
ssry to be mainly considered only after
the disease has appeared in q commu
nifty. 1t is well, however, to be familiar
with their importance, for. IN the opin-
ion of physicians of experience, if such
measures and precautions are properly
carried out, the progress of the disease,
even after its appearance, can be mate
rally arrested.
There is still another matter which, at
this time especially, should receive the
attention Of our civil authorities, and
hat is the subject of proper quarantine
against the introduction of the disease
from infected districts. At this season
of the year every train and steamer from
the North brings amongst us many visit
Ors direct from the scenes of the scourge.
Not a great deal of danger is to be at
tributed to this source, perhaps, since
the parties travelling would not be able
TO conceal an attack of the disease. Still
infectious diseases of all kinds are fire
quently spread in this way from one
place to another, and great care should
be taken, by strict and thorough exami-
nations, to guard against all risks.
We are happy to repeat that, so far.
there is no indication whatever that we,
in this community, will be called
upon to suffer from this plague.
Still to be fOrewarEed is to be forearmed,
and it is the part of wisdom to provide
against all possible contingencies. If the
necessary steps are taken in time there
is no doubt that the scourge can be sue
cessfully warded off. and it is the duty
not only of the authorities but of every
individual citizen to see to it that moth
ing be left undone to prevent visitation
Of so dread a disease.