The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-12-09
A HARNEssED CONTRACTION.

tically uncomfortable, attack more frequent
ly the little ones, and are very often fatal or
followed by infrmitIes of q serious nature
that exist through life, while small pox can
be shut of, can be cured, can be mitigated,
aud need not be followed by evil results.
The prevention Of small pox is in having
bad the disease itself or IN vaccination. Either
Of these may fail under exceptional crcum-
stances rs prereutives that IS, for instance
if subsequent to having been saccinated the
person has bad the measles, eryslpolss, or
any skin disease involving q considerable
surface Of The body. 1t 10 then proper 10 be
revaccnatcd, and it Is we'll during the preVa-
lence Of the epidemic er on any exposure to
the disease TO revaccinaLe. il the system is
susceptible to small pox the vaccination will
take; If not, the person has still immunity
from any serious evil. The danger from
small pox occurs in the secondary fever; and,
except where skin diseases have interviewed
as mentioned, this persons vsccinsed do not
have. They may have varioloid but nothing
more. Another well established fact is that
vaccination takes effect sooner than small
pox, and persons exposed thereto may be
vaccin:ted up 10 the tenth or twelfth day ef-
ter exposure with The certainty, providing
the vaccine is good, of the vaccination anti
cipsting and mitigating the disease into a
foIm so mild that fatality will not result.
Two diseases can not exist in the body at
the same time.
There are yet persons who do not accept
these views, but they are the conclusions ef
the best medical authorities the world over,
and are being demonstrated every day. In
several Of the European aud Asialic govern
ments vaccination or Ejaculation is made
compulsory by law, and the fatalities have
been very greatly reduced. In several
American cities the same course Is being
adopted, and we notice that in q great city
like Chicago where snail pox exists among
the poorer and less carefully cared for peo-
pie, even there the fatalities have emily
reached one and one half per cent. These
facts we think fully sustain our proposition
that small pox is not nearly to be so much
- oCftla al ObhSi pSDpiS
will only avail themselves of the kuowa
preventive. The disease is bridle-wise and
harnessed.
1t is true that west of us the disease has
appeared in some towns, and has been very
fatal, but its presence was not known, and
not admitted when known, until almost ell
tire communities were stricken. Latest ac-
counts from them prove that when once rec
osnized and met with sanitary and restrict
i've measures, it was almost Immediately
checked. In the larger cities on the coast
there is for some caus. apprehension of the
disease becoming prevalent this winter, cnd
where people are packed III close qusrters it
is sometimes difficult to give them proper
treatment or prevent spread Of infection.
But in Montana, where there are plenty Of
physicians 10 vaccinate, plenty of fresh air 10
breathe, and disposition by the csunty end
city authorities to employ all effective meas
ures TO meet and battle the infection, we do
! not think there is any danger TO be appre-
hended. Until within the last few weeks
there has never been fatality among the
whites except of persons who came here
with the disease from abroad. The disease
would not at this time have spread from
Wunderlich's IL any care bad been eT-
ercised. 1t seems 10 be the history OF small
pox In Montana that it is quite fatal among
lndans-paItly fiom their babits, Jack Of
vaccination and method of treatment. If
the disease appears in MissouIa county lhe
Indians should be vaccInated or removed
from the settlements. Upon our citizens vs.
urge vaccination; if you have been vaccin-
ated once, try it again. Then avoid expos
ure TO cases unless necessary III care Of the
afflicted, and be careful 10 not carry it to
others by your clothing or person. There is
but little medication required for persons
having the disease, and one attendant Is
isolated building is not attended with dan
ger 10 the patient, and 1t Is better than 10
keep An entire family exposed. For persons
not having other place a comfortable build
ing has been established near Deer Lodge,
and those unable to pay for vaccination,
nurses or medical attendance will be pro-
yided for at public expense.
The public interest directed TO this matter
at PRESENT has led to these remarks. While
we do not anticipate spread of the disease,
We deem it the duty of all to take these pre-
cautions, accepted as efiectual, not only as a
protection to themselves but to their neigh
bors, and then to assist whenever it is in
their power to. prevent spread Of contagion
and In providing for those unfortunately
afflicted.