Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-12

sor,e parts OF virginia and otner
Eastern states. That It does NOT
alarm the people more Is due 10 '"'
fact that 70 is OF the mlldest possible 'ype'
There have been some deaths from IT,
! but the proportion OF deaths TO the cases
has been small. Indeed. the general
oninjon is that rarely before was sueh
a mild type Of smallpox known. The
disease IS trlnlng when compared with
what II was when in London hospitals
tho death-rate was one to four.
Whether smallpox IL losing It's ma
bgnancy rs a disease. or the sanitary
conditions prevailing among our popuia-
ton Offer n resistance not presented In
the past. we do not know.
In the immense majority or cases
wbere tho disease has seized upon people
they we're persons who had never been
vaccinated: yet they have had tho ina'a-
DIV in a form not much harsher than
might have been expected or an
! average case Of varioloid.
| II would be very comforting to Va II
We could feel satisfied that the disease
would not increase in violence; but alas!
we can have no such assurance some
cpidcmics begin in a mild form and grow
I'm severity. We trust and believe that
that will not be the experience OF inns
country at this time. Nevertheless IL -
| wise TO prepare for the worst. BY that
we mean that each head OF family
/ oil
her household are vaccinated.
Tire mother who permits an unvaoci-
mated servant TO come upon her premises
IS guilty OF culpabe negligence. Ana
each city and county ought TO make pro-
vision for public vaccinators and Tor nos
pitals. where the sick may be promptly
treated. Richmond has adopted the course
va recommend to others. and vaccination
here has been very general! Would that
VIC could say that every man ana woman
and child here is under the protection OF
vaccination. but we cannot. Some per-
sons have designedly lodged the doctors
who have been sent around to vscclnate
the public. Others have CHANGED not 10
be at home when the physicians called
and are giving themselves no iurther
concern about the matter.
So far as we arc informed our COM
munlty IS very free indeed from pre)u-
dice against vaccination. Objections 10
II arc rarely made on account OF IT'S e.
fciency: but there are a good many Ia
boring men and women who are rear
hN
sore for several days that they wouid
be compelled to lose time from ther
work. and who. for that reason OBJECT 70
being vaccinated. OF course TINS Is
very short-sighted view to take; but
when we consider the poverty OF many
OF these people, and the trouble whlch
falls upon them in consequence OF the loss
Of any part of their income. we must
realize that they should be pleaded wllh'
rather than denounced. They ought to
DO informed. too. that the authorities VIII
never be content until the entire popula-
ton is thoroughly vaccnated. 50 II must
appear that those who avoid vaccination
are only making trouble for themselves
Sooner or later the dodgers will have to
WELD. The authorities would not be justi-
fable i'm permitting a few "kickers' to
endanger the lives of thousands OF others,
who. in the true spirit of good citizen
ship. have compiled with all of the de-
mands and suggestions Of the health OIL
GERS.
The Dispatch is not speaking now mere
~ of Richmond, Manchester, Chesterfield,
and Henrlco, but of all this State, and all
the eastern part of the United States. Most
Virginia communities may expect TO pre-
vent the disease from appearing amongst
them in an epidemic form but we know
of none which should expect 10 be ex-
empt from the appearance there of an oc-
casional case. 1t may come at time
and from a direction least expected; but
now. as ever before, smallpox haunts
iails! Each community would. there
fore, do we'll to keep a watchful
eye upon It's Jail and Jail population.
But for this population we believe it
would be in the power of the health Off
GERS of this country TO give smallpox
such a quietus as would make it an enc
my seldom to be seen and rarely to be
feoraJ