The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-27
THE sINTELLIGENcER.
WHEELING. DECEMBER 81. 1900.
Vaccinatel

The statement OF DR.. S. L. Jepson. city
health officer. to the city council, re-
garding the smallpox situation, is in no
degree alarming. but at the same time
1T conveys warning that should not
go unheeded, which means vaccination
/ Fifteen cases since November 2 are as
nothing compared to the prevalence Of
the disease In other parts Of the coun-
try. where 1t is raging with great yiru-.
lence-especially in New York City and
certain parts OF Kentucky. The cases
In Wheeling have. so far. been OF a
mild form, but that should not lend the
people to treat the matter. lightly. The
only safety lies in the injunction of DR..
Jepson-vacc;nate. The necessity for
guarding against the disease by taking
this precaution Is enforced by the doc
tors reflections on present conditions:
II cannot close this report without
again impressing with renewed empha-
sis. the urgent necessity OF vaccination.
OF the eighteen patients In our hospital
during the year just closing. not one
was ever successfully vaccinated. Those
In our community who persist in their
neglect OF this simple, but certain pre-
ventive measure may soon have occa-
sion for sad regret. While the fact that
but one new case has occurred within
the past eight days is very encouraging.
yet it should never be forgotten that in
universal vaccination alone lies the
safety OF our people and the protection
of our people and the protection Of our
business interests. Without this. the
utmost vigilance, Of your health officer
can give no guarantee against the
spread OF this disease"
This plain statement should at once
arouse the careless and those who are
inclined to put of doing things until the
procrastination catchts them up. In
this connection the Louisville Courier
Journal has something very pertinent
: to say. as follows:
Long exemption from any epidemic OF
smallpox had relaxed In rnnny commun-
tiles. though not in all, public vigilance Is
providing against IT. The precautions
4 were no longer so strictly enforced. Hence
the disease has kept alive, and hence when
an inviting field Is found an epidemic
makes Its appearance with something OF
the old terrorism, and with the manifold
Inconvenience and pecuniary loss OF
quarantine. rs.l7. j
1t is the total or partial protection that
vaccination gives that renders the disease
comparatively harmless when the whole
population has been yacclnated. and II is
the want OF protection In other places thai
makes an epidemic so destructive to life.
AS already mentioned, the value of vac.
cinatlon has been questioned. and so still
among minority. But the comparison
OF the ravages OF smallpox at different
times, with and without vaccination, Is SO
decisive as TO leave no room for doubt as
7 to Its utility. That a single vaccination
does not always protect Is conceded. and
an attack OF smallpox Itself sometimes
1alls to prevent recurrence. Hence, not
only vaccination, but REORGANIZATION from
time to time Is necessary, and whenever
that Is done smallpox loses its tcrrors-
till we forget. Probably no disease Is al
ways preycntablc. but smallpox is one of
those ofwhich the prevention Is most GER
tain II proper precautions be taken.
{ One of the most common arguments
used by the Observation-Disclosures Is tho
trouble that results from the use OF dis
eased vaccine matter. But as nobody adj
Vocates that sort of vaccination the ar
) gument has no logical force. 1t certainly
emphasizes the need OF greater care in the
preparation and distribution OF pure mat
ter. Ii this were made universal most
OF the objections to vaccination would
s speedily disappear. In spite OF II vac
c!nntion has done md continues TO do
vast amount OF good. ard when faithfully
practiced reduces deaths from smallpox
almost to the vanishing point. excepting.
or course. cases imported from places
where less care Is tnkcn.