The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-07-22
Suggestions for the Restriction
and Prevention of
SIN ALL POX.
Presented by the State Board Of
Health Of Wisconsin.
OFFICE WISCONSIN STATE BOARD OF !
HEALTH, DECEMBER, 1881.

OFFICE WISCONSIN STATE BOARD OF J
HEALTH, DECEMBER, 1881.
The prevalence of Small Pox at this
present time and to an alarming extent in
adjoining States, and the recent importa-
ton Of several cases Of that loathsome NAL.
ady into Wisconsin, demand that the State
Board of Health should again call the at
tention Of our citizens to the Importance of
taking such precautions as will render
them ana their families safe from its at
tacks
Special inquiry instituted by this Board
has shown that a very large proportion of
our people are now wholly unprotected from
Small PoX, Having been for several years
comparatively free from this disease, many
have neglected to employ the only precau-
ton which has ever yet proven effective as
q safeguard against it, /. e., Vaccination.
Parents, forgettul of the danger they
were mourning, have put off the perform
ance of this operation upon their children,
and others who were vaccinated III early
life have forgotten that the protection then
acquired may have worn out with advanc-
ing years, and have neglected to assure
themselves Of its continued efficacy by re-
vaccination, and thus it has come about
that we have in our midst large number
Of unprotected individuals average es-
innate of a great many observers being
that considerably more than one third of
our whole population is included in this
class. Under such circumstances this
Board feels called upon to renew the warn
ing given in its circular Of .February last
and to reitcrate the belief founded on the
most indisputable evidence that Small PoX
Is pre-eminently preventable disease, that
we possess the means by which We may
confidently expect to keep it from our
homes, and from our communities, and that
it never comes to either, except as the
means known to be able to prevent it, have
been neglected. 1t can maintain cOutin-
ued existence anywhere, only through the
ignorance or obstinacy Of the people, or the
inefficiency or criminal neglect Of the local
authorities.
Fully impressed with this belief, we there
fore urge upon the physicians and upon all
citizens Of Wisconsin that they give to the
lawful health.authoritie such moral and
material support as will enable them and
/ compel them, III Difference to public opin-
ion, to institute the only measures that will
protect US from such prevalence Of the dis
ease as now exists in other states with
which we are in constant communication,
and from the enormous expense the great
/ distress and consequent disaster which we
/ may surely expect in our own state from
this disease if we neglect the means to pre-
vent it. These means are the thorough
Vaccination of Every Person
/ who has not already undergone that opera.
ton and the equally thorough re-vaccna-
ton Of all other persons upon whom it mas
not recently and successfully been per-
/ formed.
This board has unqualified confidence in
! the protective power of thorough vaccina-
ton. With very rare exceptions all are
susceptible of It's influence, and, with
/ equally as rare exceptions, the pro-
lection secured by it against any form of
variolous disease is perfect. To secure
this protection however, three conditions
must be carefully observed.
lst. The virus used must be vigorous and
pure. Enfeebled or deteriorated or i'm
properly selected virus may produce spu-
rious and wholly unprotecting sores. At
best they give but an imperfect develop
ment of the vaccine disease, hence lead to
a feeling Of false security, and not unfre-
quently bring unjust discredit upon the
operation.
We recommend the use of bovine virus
as being free from all objections, safe in all
cases, producing the maximum of protec
tive influence, and being always available
in any quantity needed.
I'd. The operation must be skilfully and
properly performed. The careless and i'm
perfect manner in which vaccina ton is
often performed and the utter lack of
watchfulness of the result, or knowledge as
to whether there has resulted genuine
typical vesiele, is grievous mistake. The
operation should be conscientiously per-
formed, and the development thereof care
fully observed until j. is known to be pro-
tective. 1t is a mistake to postpone vacci-
nation until an epidemic appears, for it
may then be done hastily and without an
opportunity to watch properly its perfect
development.
Sd. Re-vaccination should be frequently
practlced to test the returning susceptible
ity of the system to the small pox conta-
gion.
By strict and universal observance of
these rules we believe that small pox cpl
denies and the fear of them would cease to
exist. To neglect these precautions is to
endanger not only the life of him who ne
elects them but also the lives Of those with