Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-02-09
The Smallpox PlaR n ..

The Smallpox Plaque.
Wilmington having passed through
one visitation within year of that
dreaded scourge, the smallpox, is com
pnratively clear Of the disease at the
present time, while other cities are I'm.
dergoing the rigors of the scourge, and
is happily in condition to offer sd'
vice and sympathy to those places now
suffering. There 10 something alarm
ing in the manner in which small. pox
is spreading over the country at the
present time. The National Board of
Health, some two weeks ago, got
alarmed and declared that it WAS cpl.
ismic in the United States, but it is
doubtful if the declaration will do any
good. A few simple comprehensive
directions as to the proper care of pa
tients, isolation, and above all, the dis
infection Of houses and clothing, would
have served good purpose in checking
the disease, but this wild note of alarm
will serve no good purpose. After all
that has been said for and against vac.
cination, there appears so far nothing
30 effectual to prevent the spread of the
plague. Those who have been vaccina-
ted in former years, should refuse all
risks and get vaccinated again. 1t is
no longer doubted by intelligent people
that the process supplied a nearly per.
feet safeguard against the disease. One
who has been vaccinated, it is true, is
subject to the disease, but can hardly
have it in an aggravated form. In the
sweep across the country at this time,
we may discover a faint indication of
the destructive work smallpox used to
leave in its track, before the virtues of
vaccination were discovered. 1t passed
through the country then Staying thous-
ands where it now Stays it's tens 1t
has terrible power yet, but vaccination
has robbed it Of much Of its deadly
force, and would no doubt deprive it Of
all, if every human being could have
the protective virus placed in his veins.
A case Of smallpox in house nova
days literally puts its inmates as much
under the ban as if they lived in the
Middle Ages and been mathematical
by the Roman Church. Business
schools and social intercourse must be
stopped. All this is very annoying and
frequently cause of much pecuniary
loss, and the temptation is strong to
cover up the whole matter and risk the
spread of the disease. This practice
ard the almost universal neg Iect of vac
cinatiOn in late years, are the only
causes of the recent spread of the
plague With vaccination. auoth,r
precaution should be adopted to pre. |
vent the spread. Every town and viii |
iage should provide themselves with a
smallpox hospital, a temporary strur.
ture, something on the principle of tbe
half tent hospitals in use in this ritv
last summer, properly heated, venti.
lated and attended by trained physi.
clans and nurses. In small town If
Is perfectly practicable to make this
hospital comfortable and fit TO receive
all Patients of whatever sex and grade
In larger cities there should be private
hospitals in which a man or woman
aple TO pay for physician, skilled
nursing and the comforts necessary IN
a cure could be furnished to them.
There are such establishments in En-.
ropean cities for contagious diseases
out there are none in this country. SO
Tar az We have been able to learn. ANY
person having the means and possess.
ing good sense and right feeling. i'll
seems to US would prefer going to such ,
an institution, rather than to carry the
disease home to his family. The houses
1eed not necessarily be large, indeed it
would be better if they were not-and
litter the epidemic is over they could
'evert to thsir original owners and DUR. ,
'oses.
These two remedies and proper at
ention TO disinfection would put an
NJ to the smallpox in a very short
line, so far as it is epidemic. But
here will still be here and there spora-
tic case, something like there is in Or
Aty, though it may practically be said 9
% I've clear Of the disease. Il
The Ignorance of even educated PEG !
,ie on the means and mode of disinfpc. o
ioh IL rea " astonishing. There is no +
leed OF alarm, and no good can be
'a'heu ny exciting the people. Yet it
~ wen 70 recognize the fact that a viru. l.
ant ana loathsOuo disease il steadily 7
gaming heahway all over the countrv
ma the people should quietly SET abont
hopping it promptly and eb4ctuaIIv !,
-~S
SINCE THE LATE heavy fail of snow,
Is no unusual thing to hear house II
Keepers complain Of the ate Gala Of tho p
nilkman. Far tbia l,..paos ,.,, l.. A