Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-18
ABOUT SMALLPOX.
INFORMATION FROM THE STATE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Prevention by Vaccination-Treat
ment of SMALLPOX Patients-Use
of Disinfectants-Etc.


by the State Board of Health, and is of
vital Importance at the present time by
reason of the prevalence of smallpox in
many parts of the State:
After an absence of many wears. small
pox has again been imported into our
State. The extreme liability of its diffus-
ion through railway INSTRUMENTATION
| and personal contagion, and in view OF
| checking its progress, the State Board of
Health feels it its imperative duty to pre-
sent certain suggestions and precautions,
the compliance with which will restore
| confidence to those who suffer from fear of
the disease, and absolute immunity to those
IN danger of contagion. There are two
ways to obtain protection from smallpox.
One is by strict quarantine, to completely
| shut 1t out. and the other is to anticipate
1t by Il general vaccination. As the first
mode is more or less liable to failure.
through lack of vigilance on the part of
the authorities, or absence of indications
OF the incubating disease that would war
rant detention, it is the more certain plan
to vaccinate as well as quarantine, and
then we have the disease wholly under
command as nearly as human means can
do it,
PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
Vaccination is the only preventive meas
ure that is known to successfully avert
smallpox. If properly done with reliable
virus, whether bovine or humanized, there
is nothing more absolutely certain than
the fact of the protection of the individual
from the fatal effects of smallpox
The vaccination ought, if possible, to be
performed by an educated physician, with
lymph that he knows to be pure and de-
sirable, and who is perfectly familiar with
the typical vesicle produced; or, in other
words, who knows that the vaccination has
been successful, or taken properly.
There are, however, certain precautions
to be taken in the performance of the OPP
Grafton of vaccination to make the result
| certain. The State Board of Health can
not too earnestly protest against the care
less and unscientifc manner in which it is
too often performed and the result ascer-
tanned. In many, very many, cases such
vaccination serves only to deceive through
a false sense of security, much unmerited
disparagement is cast upon the value of
the operation, and the confidence which
its preventive power inspired is rudely
shaken when the, supposed to be, vaccin-
ated person is stricken with smallpox.
This result is to be doubly deplored; first
on the part of the stricken victim, and
| again for the fruitful theme for contro-
versy which 1t suggests to the opponents
| of vaccination and which it is often very
difficult to combat. To avoid as much as
possible any such contingency, and to in
sure the result of perfect vaccination,
the following recommendations are pre-
sented for adoption to all vaccinators. as
designed to secure and maintain the public
confidence in the
PROTECTIVE POWER OF VACCINATION.
First-Except as far as the immediate
danger of smallpox may require, vaccinate
only subjects that are in good health. In
cases of infants, ascertain that there is not
any febrlle state, any irritation of the
bowels, or unhealthy condition of the skin.
DO not vacclnate, except in cases of great
necessity, where there has been recent
exposure to the measles, scarlet fever,
or diphtheria, or where erysipelas has
been prevailing in or about the place of
residence.
Second-ln all ordinary cases of prima-
airy vaccination make such insertions of
vaccine virus as will produce at least two
or more separate good sized vesicles.
which should be carefully protected from
injury during their progress toward
maturation, avoiding afterward the pre-
mature removal of the crust. Do not use
any needless dressing to a vaccinated arm; ;
simple strip of clean, soft muslin, care
fully sewed round the arm, will protect it
from abrasion.
Third-The virus used should be of
known purity, whether in the form of
humanized or bovine lymph The crust
or scab should never be used except in
cases of necessity, and then only under the
surveillance of the physician. Self-vaccina-
ton, or vaccination performed by unpro-
fessional friends unqualified to distinguish
the true sore from that which is spurious.
is often attended by serious results. and
might be the means of introducing poison
Gus matter into the blood, which ought to
be avoided, as death made be the conse-
quence.
Fourth-Virus should never be used
from the arms of revaccinated persons.
There is no evidence that it Possesses any
protective power, but, on the contrary,
may be injurious.
HUMAN LYMPH