Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-08
TUESDAY. ..... JANUARY 8. 1895.
SMALLPOX and Vaccination.

SMALLPOX and Vaccination.
or the important cities Of this country
p,cbmond Is one of the few that have
en,oved exemption from smallpox this
season. The disease has been making
the rounds OF our greatest cities. In nome
of them, however, has a scare been crea-
tod. The nearest approach to such
th,np was in Washington, where several
enn,ovees In one of the government pu-
reaus were attacked by the disease, ana
where there was well-founded fear that
4, would spread throughout the CITY,
And SO II would have spread. perhaps
~ rigorous measures had not been ADOPT
Cd TO vacclnate the entire popuiatioii'
This put a check TO 1t at once. Ihere
have been some deaths from smau-PoA
in washington recently, but there ism
the slightest danger of an epidemic. ana
we expect to see the disease stamped out
there in a very little while.
1t is vaccination that has robbed small
pox of its old-time number OF victims. 1e'
there are some persons who have no lai'h
IN the efficacy of vaccination; there are also
some, we doubt not, who DelieVe that
fire will not burn the hand that is thrust
into the flame! But all the sensible peo-
ple Of the world have come TO the know
ledge Of the vast value OF vaccination.
That the doctors of medicine do truly
believe In vaccination Is shown by their
willingness when thus fortlhed 10 at
tend smallpox patients whenever called
upon.
There are now in Virginia scores OF
worthy and capable young physicians
who. having been vaccinated, are ready
to take charge of smallpox hospitals,
or in any other way attend upon per-
sons suffering from the disease. Their
dependence for immunity from the DIS
ease Is upon vaccination. Here in Rich
mond we have always found skilfui phy-
sicians ready to separate themselves
from society and take charge of our hos
pital. And we are glad to say that not
one of these, so far as we know, ever
contracted the disease, and this notwith-
standing the fact that they nursed their
patients, slept under the same roof with
them. and in some cases helped TO
shroud the dead.
There has been no case of smallpox
in Richmond for many years, and although
we are well prepared to deal with the
disease, we hope never to see another
Ease here But OF course that Is over
much to expect. Still We adhere to our
opinion-which we know Is the opinion
of our taxpayers-that it would be bet
ter to spend tens of thousands Of dollars
in preventive measures than to let even
one case appear here.
The Indian town." where smallpox is
now affecting the Pamunkeys, is twenty
odd miles from Richmond. The disease
was brought there by member OF the
tribe who had been in New York, and
is Of a mild type. With proper care 1t
ought to be confined to that locality.
The reservation is a sort Of State pro-
perty, and the King William authorities
look to the State to help them care for
the suffering Indians. Unhappily how
ever, there is no State money applicable to
this purpose. Governor OFerrall, with
the best will possible, has his hands tied
for want of funds.
We hope that the General Assembly at
its next session will set apart ten thou
sand dollars to enable the State Board of
Health, or other proper authorities. to
combat epidemic diseases Meanwhile, IL
the worst comes to the worst, we believe
that the Governor could borrow from our
pubiic-spirited citizens. and these citizens
would take the risk Of repayment by the
General Assembly.
1t may be that the present trouble In
King William county can be tided over
by the joint efforts Of the authorities Of
King William and Richmond.
The country people have more than the
city people TO fear from smallpox, mas
much as they have not the experienced
physicians and nurses and the hospitals
that we have.
Every time that the smallpox appears
in one of our Virginia counties there Is
wide alarm and distress Of mind on the
part OF persons living in the affected
neighborhood. Usually the disease is al
lowed to get quite start before steps
are taken TO suppress II. With a fund at
the hands Of the State Board Of Health
this could be averted.
Objection has been made to the voting
OF such an appropriation on the ground
that the money would be spent In use
less scientific experiments" We think
that no such fear need be entertained;
certainly not IL the money be set apart
especially for the suppression Of cpl
demic diseases" Let US hope that such
an appropriation will be made at the
next session. And be 1t understood that
we are saying only what we said when
smallpox was in Lunenburg and what we
said when 1t was in Shenandoah county.
We hold that It Is as much the duty OF
the Commonwealth to spend money to
suppress an invasion Of disease as 1t
would be to spend money to suppress an
invasion Of armed men.
Everybody in Richmond and Manches-
ter and In Virginia ought to be vacci-
mated. Heads Of families. after having
themselves and their women and chill
dren vaccinated, should look after their
servants. No prudent man will keep O
servant on his premises who hasn't been
vaccinated. The nurse may bring the
smallpox to the child that she carries
In her arms. The washerwoman or cook
may bring IL TO all the household. The
people who are renting kitchen-rooms OF
you may make q complete smallpox nest
In your yard. Deal with these people
gently but firmly. Tell them that vacci-
nation II not painful and costs nothing.
and that It is a passport to employment.
Also tell them how TO proceed to be vac
cipated free OF cost.
The greatest monument to municipal
wisdom that We know Of II well-ap-
pointed and unteAanted smallpox hospi-
tai Such 10 Richmond'A Such II has been
for many years. Such we trust that II
msy lnng continue 10 Be.