Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-03-13
SMALLPOX.
How the Disease Is COntractel-Pre.
cautions to Prevent Infecti0n-The I'm.
p0rtance OF Vaccination.


cautions to Prevent InfectiOn-The I'm.
portance OF Vaccination.
Lomb Prize Essay. of American Public Health
Association
This disease is contracted by ex-
posture to omanations from the body
Of the sick, or from articles which
have been in use by them, or exposed
in their vicinity, There is no evidence
that the small pox poison multipIies
external to the human body, and the
indications for prophyIaxis are there
fore quite different from those al
ready given for cholera and yellow
fever. One may eat what he pleases,
and wallow in filth, when small pox
is prevailing, without contracting the
disease, SO long as he keeps away
from the sick, and is not brought in
contact with any article infected by
them. In this disease, however, as
in the infectious diseases generally,
previous general habits will greatly
influence the result when exposure
does occur; and the disease is more
fatal to the victims of alcoholism, to
those who are poorly nourished, and,
in general, to those whose vitality is
reduced by exposure to noxious eff
tluvia from putrefying material, by
living in overcrowded and ill-venti-
lated apartments, etc.
AS it is now the universal practise
to lsoa ate smallpox patients as soon
as the disease is recognized, the dan
ger of coming, accidentally, in contact
with them is not great. There is but
little danger of infection from passing
within few yards OF a patient with
smallpox i'll the open air, or from
passing building in which cases are
under treatment. Unprotected per
sons who enter the sick-room are, how
ever, extremely liable to contract the
disease; and the infectious material
given off from the patients body
clings most consciously to surfaces, to
clothing, etc, and may give rise to
an attack after many months, unless
destroyed by disinfection.
1t is evident, then, that individual
prophylaxis will include the avoid
ance of places which have been &C.
oupied by the sick, and of articles
used by them, unless there is GER
tainty that they have been thoroughly
disinfected. 1t is possible that an
unprotected person, who feels oblig-
ed, for special reasons, to enter the
sick room, may escape infection by
the use OF an air filter placed over
the mouth and nostrils. This should
be constructed on the principle of the
"Tyndal respirator," in which all in
spired air is made to pass through a
layer of cotton wadding, which arrests
suspended particles. 1t would be
necessary Immediately on coming out
of the room to burn the cotton filter,
to battle the bands and face in a dis
injecting solution, and to change the
outer clothing.
It's general rule in regard to in
fictitious diseases that those who are
necessarily exposed to them should
take the precantion of not going into
the sick room with an "empty. stom-
ach," or in a condition of exhaustion
from any cause. A cup of coffee, OF
glass of wine and a cracker, may
be taken if a considerable interval
has elapsed since the last regular
meal.
IMPORTANCE OF yACCIS NATION.
1t is well known that against small
pox we have a special measure o.
prophylaxis, which has restricted the
ravages of this disease within the
limits which are left to it by careless
ness In regard to the application o
. this measure, or ignorance of its value
Since the f.mous discovery ty len