Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-17
Vaccination Of Servants and Others

OF servants u OtheTS'
The Board of Aldermen has unloaded
a heavy responsibility and receded from
a dangerous position In concurrlng In
the Common Council resolution placing
$3.50 In the hands OF the Board of Health
for the purpose Of securing a general
vaccination OF the people OF this city.
True, II has voted against compulsory
vaccination, but this. too. 1t would adopt
should the smallpox appear in Richmond
Public opinion. II brought to bear In
the proper direction. would be almost
as potent as any compulsory vaccination
ordinance the City Council could pass.
There Is smallpox at Indiantown near
Lestor Manor, at Washington. at New
York. and at many other places With
which Richmond is in daily communica-
ton. IL may be brought here at any
moment. a single case Of 1t here might
cost this community scores of thousands
of dollars. Our rivals in trade might then
proclaim far and wide, as they did once
before, There's smallpox in Richmond;
IL Is dangerous TO buy goods there
For our part. II 1t were necessary. we
would cheerfully mortgage the City Hail
to keep the smallpox out OF Richmond.
and If II should get here. and II were
necessary. we would cheerfully sell the
City Hall to eradicate the disease.
If there were cases Of smallpox
scattered all over the city our people
would cry out In alarm and dread, and
with a mighty voice demand that there
should be compulsory vaccination. They
would have no patience with persons who
were willing TO take and distribute this
loathsome disease whilst arguing points
Of law. But. as 1t is. public sentiment
is not prepared to support so rigid a
measure as 1t would be were the disease
amongst us.
We are all interested in having the
colored people ~vaccinated. They furnish
our buffers, drivers. cooks, nurses. wash
women, and chambermaids. Most OF
them sleep In Jackson Ward, and at
any moment after smallpox has APP
peared in Richmond your servant may
bring it to your house. Then the dis
ease may fasten itself upon some member
Of your family, whose vaccination has
been imperfect. Therefore, Dur duty TO
the colored people and our concern for
self-protection combine to make us wish
that the colored people should all en-
JOY the privilege of being v%accinated
without charge.
Certainly, no prudent head of n house
will employ any servant, white or colored,
who cannot show a perfect vaccinations
scar. Particularly should this caution be
exercised towards nurses and washer
women. LIT this requirement as to ser
wants at residences, and in offices and
stores, become general, and We should
see thousands flocking to the doctors
begging to be v~accinated.
There are cases of smallpox in nearly
all the large cities of this country. Rich
mond people have been alarmed lest 1t
hou be brought here from Indian
town-twenty-odd miles distant-but. in
our judgment, it is quite as likely TO
be brought here from Washington or
New York, with both of which places we
are in closer communication than with
%Indiantown or Lester Manor.
IL may not be In our power to keep
smallpox out OF Richmond--as we have
done for so many years-but ii is our duty
to try.
Our Board of Health has acted in this
matter with a vigor and energy worthy
of all praise. We know that 1t Will spend
the $500 wisely. Meanwhile, let us see
that each member of our hous hold is
vaccinated, and employ no servant who
cannot show q good vaccination-scar.