The daily gazette., 1883-02-09
BOARD or HEALrn.
A Meeting Devoted 90 SMALLPOX and Vac
cInaslon--An Important Paper.


eInation--An Important Paper.
A special meeting of the Board of Health
was held last evening, with President Bush
In the chair. The meeting was called with
reference to the legislative bill, and also to
consult with the city vaccine physicians.
Doctors Chadwick and Lukens were present
and In answer to a question by DR.. Bush,
DR.. Lukens stated that he bad vaceinated
631 persons last month aud bad received for
the work $6.25 from persons vaecinated;
he further stated that it seriously
interfered with his regular practice and that
he had thought of resigning, as 1t was fire.
| quently the case that people would slam
doors in their faces, suppOsing that they had
| just come from smallpox.
DIR. Chadwick stated that he used both
animal virus in crust and also vaccine points
which had proven satisfactory.
DIR. Bush considered smallpox communi-
cable after the fever set in. The vaccine
| physicians were requested to potify the
Board before Tuesday night whether or not
they were willing to continue. Complaints
were made of the careless manner in which
some reports of smallpox cases were sent
In by the attending physician, the blanks
| being only partially filled. A motion of Mr..
Otto that the Secretary be instructed topro-
| ceed against physicians who fail 10 make
proper reports was unanimously adopted.
The following paper, read by DIR. Draper,
was adopted as the sentiment of the Board
SIN consideration of the fact that smallpox
has again appeared In our city, and with
| view to prevent a further extension among
our citizens, this Board deems it proper to
address them in reference to the best and
only means by which they may be perfectly
protected from the most loatnsome and fatal
disease, TO wit By a satisfactory vaccina-
/ .s-A aka 60 Hn r~..A
| that all attempts at vaccination and revac
cination are not protective. Two years ago
a great many persons, after applying the
vaccine points, found a small red pimple
| upon their arms which they unfortunately
considered sufficient to protect them from
smallpox, while indeed it was a mere local
effect without any protective power. Such
persons should be vaccinatea again from the
bovine crust or fresh, pure hnmanized virus.
The Board wishes In the most positive
manner to assure our citizens that vacci-
nation when effective, that is when it pene-
| trates the human system, is perfect guard
against small pox; and that the notion that
If practiced when the smallpox is in a city
| or neighborhood renders the individual more
4 susceptible to the disease Is fatally false and
must have originated In profound ignorance.
| Many lives have been lost and much suffer-
| ing produced by the belief of this fatal de-
| lusion. The truth is that the only safety to
| an individual who has been exposed to the
small. pOx is either In the fact that he has
| already had the disease or has been well vac
cinated, or that he Immediately has resorteG
| TO vaccination which penetrates his system.
The Board has no hesitation in saying that
all the suffering, expense and death which
| occurred two years ago in this city, and the
| deaths which has recently taken place from
| the smallpox might In every instance have
| been prevented If those unfortunate persons
had been properly vaccinated, and this
| opinion Is unequivocally confirmed by the
experience Of physicians here and elsewhere
OF as reliable character as may be found
among the citizens of any community. All
| that is necessary, therefore, to arrest the fur
ther progress of the disease in this community
| is that all the people should he vaecinated
| properly. Every Individual In the city may
be vaccinated free Of expense with reliable
vaccine matter by the city vaccine physi-
clans. These physicians are Drs. Lukens,
! Palmer, Morrison and Chadwick. The
| Board again earnestly urges upon all the
people not already sati- facturily vaccinated
to test themselves by applying TO some ply
| sieian and to be assured OF the vaccination
being satisfactory. A little trouble may
ward of an incalculable amount Of
| evil. The fate of those who have
| IdAleu FiClins 10 tue ulsease ought 10
be a warning to all not to neglect the only
source Of safety. The Board further requests
all physicians 10 carefully and fully yacci-
nate all persons in any family where the
disease has appeared, that thus the spread
| of the disease may be arrested. The Board
desires to impress upon the people the i'm
| portance OF returning to the vaccine physi-
clans In all cases where they have applied
the virus for their opinion as to the efficiency
of the application. As regards the reports
Of cases of smallpox the Board is bound to
see that prompt attention is paid to it by all
| physicians In order that the Board may pro
tect the neighborhood as far as it is able to
| do so.