Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1894-02-16
FRIDAY, FEB. is, 1894.

The most striking feature of
disease prevalence for Dec ember
has been the wide spread Of small
pox in the United States and the
variety Of methods for it's proven.
ton and control. r.
As it may occur in Minnesota
at any time by Importation as it
is now doing in adjacent states, it
seems we'll to repeat clearly how
local boards of health may best
forefend its coming, or if it does
come, control and limit its in
vasion to the person or persons
first affected.
There is no prevention so relia-
BILE as vaccination OF re vaccina-
ton. Infants should be vaccln-
ated as soon after three months
OF age as possible, and before if
exposed to danger of small pox.
Vaccination should be repeated at
puberty, and at any time when
one has been exposed to the in
fsction of small pox.
The commonest mistake made
by physicians and others is to call
small pox eruption chicken pox,
mistaking the one for the other,
as measles has been COMPOUNDED
with small pox. Now, the only
safe proceeding is to isolate all
eraptive diseases till after the fifth
day when there ought to be no
mistake. If physicians and local
boards will do this there will be
little danger from the confound.
ing small pox with other eruptive
affections.
In all cases of doubt isolate, and
telegraph the facts to the secretary
who will come and see if need be.
In case of small pox occurring
this is the routine of measures to
take: Telegraph facts briefly to
the secretary of the state board
and write in full. Isolate all who
have been exposed to the inf ected
person at their homes till vaccina.
ton has been done and worked, or
there is found satisfactory scar
of previous successful vaccina.
ton. These persons can then be
allowed to 60 free after thorough
bath and disinfection of clothing.
If vaccination is refused by per-
sons who have not evidence of a
recent successful vaccination, they
must be isolated till the fourteenth
day after exposure has passed.
The infected person is best cared
for in building by himself with
none but nurse to accompany him.
Usually such building is ava1la-
bic. Any house which is clean
and dry, can be we'll ventilated
and warmed, is sufficient; provided
there are reasonable accommoda.
tions for them.
Any one who has been vaccin-
ated before taking charge of such
a case can do SO with impunity if
the operation, was recent and sue
cessful, but it is better to re.vac.
cinate with tested virus.
Local boards should immediately
provide for the vaccination of all
school children, and even more,
for children under the school age.
This is matter of needed precau-
ton, and it is perfectly justifable
to use the popular anxiety to in
duce all to accept so simple and
sure protection.
The secret success in dealing
with small pox is to watch for the
first evidence Of danger, to isolate
all doubtful cases as entirely as il
sure, till all doubt is removed; to
isolate all known or reasonably
suspected of exposure as above pro.
vided; to offer vaccination to all
and by these means, prevent all
panic and confusion and crushthe
infection by the exercise of cool,
common sense, positive insistence
upon obsdienceto needed restraint
and frank statement of the exact
truth as to the disease.-Publi<
Health for December.
For Information how to trave