The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-09-15
SMALL POX,
Its Prevention and Restriction-A
Circular from the State Board Of
Health,

Small pox is always the result of Infection The
specific poison which is the cause of the disease is
very active-a momentary exposure to it will
often result in producing small pox in the unpro-
tected, and the vitality of the Infection under GER
tain circumstances, is capable of being preserved
a long time. The disease is dangerous and loath-
some in the extreme, giving high death rate in
the unyaccinated and hideously disfguring and
manning many who Outlive it,
The present generation from its own obserya-
tion can have no adequate conception of the ter
rible devastation which this disease caused be-
fore the discovery of vaccination. In the large
cities one-third of the deaths in children under
ten Years OF age came from small pox
Not decade passed in which this disease did
not decimate the inhabitants in one country or
another, or over great tracts of country so that
it came to be more dreaded than the plagueo
In France. 10000 persons died annually from
this disease; and in the whole of Europe from
100000 to 100000 perished yearly from the
same scourge.
In Westphalia, where the death rate from small
pox was formerly 2,643 in the million of popula-
ton, the annual mortality from the same cause
declined to an average of la in the million from
cinatiOn. In Berlin the reduction was from s.
422 to 176; in Copenhagen from 1000 to 200.
These facts will give us some idea of the benefit
which has been conferred upon humanity by vac
cination. Without the protection which it affords,
nearly, not quite, the oden, fearful rate of nor
talty would, in the course of generation or two
be restored. Cleanliness and the observance of
the general laws ofhealth might avail a little, but
only little, ia restricting this disease, which
seems to have its being always in infection.
In community or town well and thoroughly
vaccinated there would be no possibility of a
serious. extension of small pox. Neglect of this
protection has, even in recent years, sometimes
ledto very disastrous and Improbable results
Such course in Philadelphia in the winter of
1912 cost the city in lives and paralyzed bus
ness twenty million dollars. And such neglect of
vaccination in Montreal is at the present time inn
posing heavy penalty ON that city and its sur
rounding province, and at the same time, serious
ly threatening the New England States.
PREVENTION.
The allimportant preventive measure is yacein-
atlon, In the face OF the disease, vaccination,
isolation and disinfectiOn must go hand in hand
Every child should be vaccinated in its earliest
year, 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.
vaccination should be done again before puberty,
and better before ten or twelve years of age.
Afterwards vaccination should be tried as often
as every six or seven years, oftener if the per-
son is subjected to probable danger of small p0X
Vaccination should by done only be competent
physicians and only with vaccine virus OF un-
doubted reliability and purity, otherwise a sense
OF security is often felt when in fact protection is
should vaccination be made in only one place.
or in several2 is sometimes asked. The following
based upon the examination OF 5000 cases OF
strongly in favor Of inserting the virus in several
places in the arm.
Percentage of deaths in
1-Unvaccinated, SO per cent.
2-Vacenated:
Having one vaccine scar, Z 7.73 per cent.
Having two vaccine scars, 4.70 per cent.
Having three vaccine scars, l. .95 per cent
Having four vaccine scars, .55 per cent.
In case of the presence of small pox immediate
and careful vaccination should be made of all per-
sons who have not reeentlyRb been so protected.
Even after known exposure to the disease,
vaccination should be done anytime be-
fore the actual appearance of the eruption.
II done within two or three days after exposure it
Will often prevent the disease, or make it much
lghter and done later there is reason to believe
that even then it has salutary effect upon the
course of the disease.
When a case appears enforce Immediately strict
isolation and quarantine of the patient and this
should be continued for at least two weeks after
the recovery of the case, and after the crustS
have all separated. When the patient cannot be
removed to hospital, but must remain in pri-
Hate mouse, secure room II possible on the up,
furnishings which will not absolutely be needed.
For nurse have some person who has been re-
Gently and successfully yaceinated, or who has
had the small pox. Keep all others away from
the room; All other persons in the house and
neighborhood should Immediately be vaccinated
In case of death the funeral should be strictly
private and conducted under the direction of the
Board of Health, Health Officer or the attending
physician.
The disinfection should also be done under the
same authority. During the sickness all dis
charges from the patient should be plentifully
treated with Dsinfectant No. 8, No. G. or No. q
and then buried. All crusts should be burned.
Clothing should be Immersed in.Disinteetant No.
4, or No; ., and then subjected to prolonged boil
ing. All articles which cannot be surely disin-
fected must be burned.
If death should occur, the body should immedi-
ately be wrapped in sheet wet with Disinfectant
No 3, or No. A, and prepared as soon as possible,
| for private burial
fumlgated with Disinfectant No. /, and renovated
| with paper paint and whitewash.
DIsINFECTANTs
| No. 1-Sdphlr Ftlnigdtion
| To use this effectively, two pounds of sulphur
should be burned in room ten feet square. Ev-
cry opening into the room, fues, doors, windows
cracks and creyices, must be closed except the
door by which the disinfector is to escape The
sulphur is to be burned in an iron kettle or other
vessel set in a tub containing a little water to
guard against fire. A little alcohol or kerosene
must be poured upon the sulphur, by means of
which It may be ignited Leave the room quickly
for the fumes are highly poisonous when breathed
and close the door tightly. Let the room remain
closed twenty-fOur hours or more Then air thor
oughly for several days.
No. 2-EOr the Discharges:
Sulphate of iron (cOpperas), pounds; warm
water, gallon; mix. This leaves rust spots on
| clothing.
No 3-For Priries, Cess-pools, ETC.:
Sulphate OF iron, 11s pounds; water, gallon;
mix.
| No. 4-For Clothing:
Sulphate of zinc (white vitriOD, ounces; com
mon salt, ounces; water, gallon; mix.
No. 5-COrrOSiUe Sublindte Solution.
Corrosive Sublimate, 60 grains; permanganate
| OF pOtassa, grain; water, gallon; mix.
CORROSIVE subllmate is one of the surest de
| stroyerS OF disease germs known, but its danger
Ousy poisonous qualities make it unsafe for gem
| eral use. 1t could be used instead Of No. 2, or
one-half this strength instead of Nos. and 4.
| No. c. Chloride Of Lime Solution;
Chloride of lime of the best quality, ounces; I;
l SOFT water, gallOn mix This IS one OF the best
| and cheapest disinfectantS.
| No. z:
| Boiling for half an hour is the surest way TO de-
strOy infection. Immersion in No. 4, or No. g.
will lessen the danger from infected clothing until
/ il can be boiled which should be done as soon as
/ DOSSillp