Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-15

The State Board OF Health Relative tn n.
Prevention.


The State Board of Health has issued 4
circular on "Small Pox, its Prevention and
Restriction" The following is an abstract /:
In Westphalia, where the death rate from
smallpox was formerly 2,643 in the million
OF population. the annual m ,rtality from the
same cause declined 10 an average of ia ia
the million from 1916 to 1850. under the in
huence of general vaccination In Berlin the
reduction was from 422 to l76; in Copen-
hagen from 1000 to 200.
These facts will give US some idea of the
oeneft which has been conferred upon human
ity by vaccination. Without the protection
which it affords, nearly, if not quite, the oldes
fearful rate of mortality would, in the course
OF generation or two, BE- restored. Cleanli-
ness and the observance of the general laws
of health might avail little, but only little
IN restricting this disease, which seems to
have its being ALWAYS in infection
In community or town well and thorough
ly vaccinated there would be no possibility of
serl 'us extension of small pox. Neglect of
this protec ion ha-, even in recent wears,
sometimes led to very disastrous and un-
profitable results. Such a course in Phila-
delphia in the winter Ct 1912 cost the city
in lives and paralyzed business twenty million
dollars. And such neglect Of vaccination in
Montreal Is at the present time imposing a
heavy penalty on that city and its surround
ing province, and, at the same time, serious
ly threatening the New England States.
PREvESTioy
The all-mportant preventive measure is
vaccination. In the face of the disease. vac
cinnatioD isolation and disinfection must go
hand in hand.
Every child should be vaccinated in its
earliest years. preferably before six months
of age, and in case of danger of infection,
the vaccination should be done at once, no
matter how young the child is. Vaccinna-
ton should De done again before puberty,
and better before 10 or IL years of age. AZ
tersards vaccination should be tried as often
as every six or seven years, or oftener if the
person is subjected to probable danger of
small pox contagion.
Vaccination should be done only by COM
petent physicians, and only with vaccine virus
of undoubted reliability and purity, other
wise sense of security is often felt when in
fact protection is not obtained.
Should vaccination be made in only
one place, or in several? is sometimes asked.
The following based upon the examination of
5000 cases of small pox in England, answers
the question strongly in favor of inserting
the virus in several places in the arm.
Percentage of deaths in: l. Unvaccin-
ated, 81 per cent. 2. Vaccnated: Having
one vaccine scar 1913 per cent. having two
vaccine scars. 40 per cent having three
vaccine scars, So per cent. having four
vaccine scars, 80 per cent.
In case OF the presence Of smallpox i'm
mediate and careful vaccination should be
made of all persons who have not recently
hoe Fad
posture to the disease, vaccination should be
done anytime before the actual appearance of
| the eruption. If done within two or three
days after exposure it will often prevent the
disease, or make it much lighter; and done
later, there is reason to believe that even then
it has salutary effect upon the course Of the
| disease.