Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-25
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
To Prevent an Epidemic Of Small
pox in Pittsburg This Year.
THE BUREAU OF HEALTH AT WORK
Furnishing Vaccine Virus and Physicians
to Make Use of 1t.
NO FEARS OF scOURGE ENTERTAINED

The vaccination season has opened, and
already in the crowded thoroughfares many
pedestrians keep on the edge of the side
walk, regardless of the rule Of the road
which commands them to keep to the right.
1t is not safe to slap man on the shoulder.
especially the left. 1t is fraught with dan
ger to the slapper, and may occasion mex
pressible anguish to the slappee.
The Bureau of Health has divided the
city into 25 vaccination districts, each one
in charge OF physician who is equipped
with quills of vaccine matter furnished by
the bureau. Yesterday several of these
physicians started out men TO make
house-to-house visitation of the districts and
notify those families where any member had
not not been vaccinated, or where the opera
ton had been performed SO long ago that its
virtue had been lost, that they had better
protect themselves against a possible vista
tion of that dread disease-smallpox. Per
sors in poor circumstances are vaccinated
free of charge by the physician in charge OF
their district, and he is paid by the city, but
all citizens who can afford it are expected to
pay the regular fee.
COST OF THE WORK.
1Hc cApcCLo W cApcuu dEVuA SOJNVV
this year for vaccination, of which the
greater amount is used in purchasing the vac
cine matter. which comes from Massachusetts,
and is furnished by a company which has
gained reputation for the quality of its wares.
There are about dozen vaccine farms in the
country, three of them in this State, one being
located at ChamDersburg. This business,
though peculiar one, requires large amount
of capital, and is very profitable, all the con-
t.a1r, had nrdn
this season of the year. which is considered the
best time for incubation. The vaccine farms
are under the management OF physicians, VINO
are expected to know when the crop is ripe. and
that it is selected only from perfectly healthy
animals-2-year-oldh heifers.
This matter, as probably most persons know,
is taken from cattle suffering from cowpox.
which is to the bovine species what measles are
to the human race-a necessary evil which
must be endured. The quilts, when filled, sell
for so cents each, one being considered the
right amount for one person, although oc-
casionally it is made to do double duty. The
practice of inoculating one person from another
has pretty generally fallen into disuse, as there
is too much danger of communicating blood
diseases.
NO EPIDEMIC EXPECTED.
Mr.. McKelvy does not expect a smallpox
epidemic this year, although. If the people who
claim that it comes every seven years are to be
believed, it is two years overdue. At the pres
ent time there is not a case in the city, but the
pesthouse has been repaired and reftted, and
IS ready for business at a moments notice. The
bureau has issued l,SOO vaccine quills in the
past three weeks, and is prepared to issue as
many more as may be demanded.
Chief Clerk McKelvy in speaking about the
virtues of the virus, said: Il do not think it
affords absolute protection against smallpox,
but person who has been recently vaccinated
takes but mild form of the disease and, un-
less there is neglect or complication of other
diseases rarely dies. Vaccination should be
compulsory, but it is not probable that it ever
will be in this country. All we can do is to
fits to be derived from it, and afford them every
opportunity to have the operation performed"