San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-01-25
VACCINATION.
A Talk With a Popular Drug
Clerk About It.
How the Ladies Are vaccinated, and
Where-A Reporters Double Desc
No Cause for Alarm, Etc.

The smallpox scare has seized upon
large number of our people, particularly
so with the ladies, who seem to be much
more timid and afraid of this disease than
the men, probably on account OF the
danger to their beauty, which is more or
less involved. For the past two days,
and particularly Saturday, this feeling
has been intens fled and was locally de-
monstrated by the large numbers who
visited our principal drug stores to be
vaccinated. Said one of the drug clerks
to LIGHT reporter yesterday
There are more people applying to us
for vaccination this year than ever be-
fore, not even in the Gare.during the last
epidemic OF three years ago. Yesterday
Saturday !he doctors and others
(clefks) at this drug store yaCcinated GO
persons and could have vacCinated 100
more had we had the time and the vac
cine"
Are the majority of those applying
women or menu" asked the reporter.
Women, mostly, and Il great many
children, little girls and boys, and some
men,"
Reporter-"HOw do they stand it rs n
rule? How do they act under the oper-
atom"
Clerk-"Under the operation they gen
orally act all right, at least the men do,
though we vaccinate some great big
men who squirm and finch like they
were having leg taken of. 1t is not
affectation, out mere fright. One strong
hearty fellow applied yesterday, and
when the vaccination WAS accomplished
he was very pale and so weak he could
not stand on the floor, but sat down for
few moments. The idea is prevalent
that ladies are timid and easily fright
ened. My experience has proven the
contrary. After the flesh is barred for
the operation they undergo it with the
greatest fortitude, and with none Of that
flinching that one would expect from Il
lady. 1t is prior to the operation that
all this takes place, and sometimes it is
very amusing"
R.-'Do they always bare their arms
for vaccination"
C.-"Bless you, no, and here I'll
tell you something said the clerk, i'll q
lower tone and very cOnfidentially lean
ing his head closer to the reporter, 1--WE
have ladies come here who wish to be
vaccinated, but do not wish the beauty
of their white and spotless arms to be
married. They always ask for DR.. B.
and are vaccinated upon their legs by
him, generally under their stockings.
They always trust him. Other doctors
also have and attend to these requests at
the houses of the ladies, as does DR.. b.,
but some prefer coming to the Doctors
office. Ladies always display more or
less trepidation at barring their arms for
the scar. Many of them wear tight
al ma hau 70 ri
the spot to be vaCcinated, because they
would rather spoil the sleeve than re-
move their waist or jersey and disclose
their corsets."
"Do not many negroes apply?"
Clerk-No, not many. They do not
realize the advantages of vaccination
and are like the Mexicans, Ignorant of
its value. Many Mexican mothers and
fathers bring their little children to be
vaccinated, but will not be vaccinated
themselves, saying they are too old and
don't need it.
'Is the operation of vaccination very
painful ?" asked the scribe.
Clerk.-Not at all. 1t is only slight
pricking sensation, like sticking a pin
or scratching. The skin Is first scraped
with the ivory point until the blood
flows slightly and then the virus is APP
piled to the raw surface and allowed to
dry before the sleeve is drawn over it.
That's all. Does 1t geerally 'take?' Nine
cases out of ten. One prominent saloon
keeper boosted that his would not take.
Ask him about it now. Inquire of AL
derman Connor. Ask almost any one
you see going along the street and care
fully keeping their left or right arms
from the jostling of the crowd. One of
the reporters was vaccinated yester-
day. In about three days ask him about
1t. l gave him double quantity; vac
cinated him myself, in two places on his
arm. Poor devil. Like all the repor-
tiers, he knows everybody, and l feel
sorry when his friends shake hands with
him or slap HIM on the shoulder or arm
as I've seen them do. | wagered the
treats with him that it would take
1--WE get the vaccine virus from differ
ent farms, run solely to supply it. By
farms mean farms where the cows are
inOculated with the genuine smallpox
and the scab is carefully saved and pre-
pared on points for shipment over the
country.
"Do you think the small pox will be q
great epidemic here?"
mo; there Ia no cause for alarm.
there are only few cases and all are
isolated as soon as discovered, and Off
GERS guard them. Like all Mexican
towns, there is more or less small pox
among us all the time. 1t seems to be
peculiarly fond of this nation. and they
do not seem to care for 1t at all. 1t
was introduced into Sinners corral this
winter by Mexican family just from
Monclova, Mexico, and into Beanville
by family from La Prairita. One very
erroneous idea held by the ignorant
Mexicans is that they will be arrested
If case of small pox is found in their
house. One family hid their infant and
would not produce is until threatened
with the police. Then they brought it
forth and 1t was found to be suffering
from small pox. The Mexican family,
Rios, who brought their l7-year old
daughter from La Prairita, concealed
the girl for Is days before she was dis
covered by the authorities"