The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-09-10

hearts and the blessed results OF his work
win live on and on.
SMALL POx and vaee1naaaon.
Tne following communication has been
addressed by the State Board Of Health to
the Hon. A. J. Russell, state superintendent
Of public instruction. The FLoRIDIAM.
urges upon the people the necessity Of vac
cination, in order to avoid this most terri
BILE pest:
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, August 30. ~.
DEAR SIR-The State Board Of Health
Of Florida requests your careful ard earnest
consideration Of the subject of vaccination
az preventive Of small pox, which disease
ID always more or less prevalent through
out the entire United States, Canada and
Central America; and ever q source Of
danger from the island Of Cuba. Situated
as Florida is, and having annually such an
influx Of visitors from all parts Of the coun-
try, and particularly from those moro
northern states where this disease IL q con-
slant menace, 1t ID absolutely necessary
that the state board Of health Of Florida
should urge upon those Of its citizens who
are unprotected the necessity Tor vaecina-
ton.
We admit that the people have to be ed
ucated in these matters by slow and hbo-
rious processes. and We rely very much
upon the cooperation Of school teacher
to promote this much to be desired end.
A large majority Of the citizens accept
cheerfully and even gladly the protection
afforded them by vaccination.
Just prior TO the opening Of the schools
throughout the STATE b the time for rs 70
insist upon the reasonable enforcement of
this part OF the rules and regulations of the
state board Of health; for making vaccina-
ton prerequisite to admission much can
be accomplished that might otherwise be
inconvenient- We would have you, who
are 90 deeply interested in educational
matters, 70 understand that we do moi wish
TO appear unreasonable or opposed 10 the
important interests which you have In
charge. On the contrary, it L. our desire
TO assist and promote those interests, and
in NO better way can we show our appre-
citation Of the trust repoecd la us than by
insisting on vaccination. Should single.
case OF small pox be discovered (4ed il NAV
occur at any iime) In or near your city or
neighbOrhOOd, and the disease become
prevalent, your school would be completely
broken up unless this regulation had been
fully complied with, il being a recognized
fact that nothing is SO conducive to the
propagation of disease as the gathering
together Of individuals in schools, churches,
factories, etc
If the principals of schools would only
give this matter sufficient attention and
cooperate with the health authorities
much Of the opposition TO T.cciDaaion
among certain element would be over
come. There 10 no occasion fA any annoy
ance TO teachers or pupils, and there will
be no friction whatever If the teachers will
only explain the necessity for this precau-
ton in kindly way, letting those unpro-
tected understand just how and where they
can be vaccinaied and the benefits that
each will derive theretrom. III this il done
and the matter dealt with IN kindness as
well a. hrmness there win be bat very lit
tie opposition.
A lev years ago countless graves. GEAR
red faces and sightleas eyes bdle grim evil
dence Of the power Of this most loathsome
disease. To-day, thanks to vaccination,
epademics OF small pox arc neither 90 fire.
quent n0tie0 viTulent, and the blind orbs
and pOck marked faces are becoming CON-
pasauvely nara Small pox il q prevent
able disease and terrible responsibility
reats upon the teacher should he fail 10 ad-
vise those mot informed Of the means q
hahd for preventing such sickness, suffer
ing, and. possibly, death.
Az proof OF the Ibeneflcent results Of
vaccination, il IL only necessary to note
that in Holland between 1910 and 1919
there were 9O,676 deaths caused by small
pox. A stringent law was enacted making
vaccination compulsory, with the result
that small pox mortality has steadily di-
minished from year 20 year. During 1890
only one death b reported % occurring in
Holland from that diseases. The medical
journals Of England bring the news OF The
spread Of small pox In London, the fruits
OF the ap:i-vacclnation crusade In that
great metropolis.
L.st year soas 1900 people were NO.
cinated IL this state. Can Ii b denied
that We - : pe0ple are better prosocfad
ffom ANAL pox than We Wnre e:nhseen
months agoe Let mo uike npou you. therc.
fore. the necosslty Cox giving this matte,
your SERIOUS altensioM !. $50
Yours very truly, #
yONERH =. PoRTER.
6tato He1ltA O0lcee of Elorida.