The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-01-30

most cases. has assumed irregular and |
forms. different in some respects
from the description 10 b. found in the
teyt-book~-the only sources ~ infoTrna-
ton. fortunately. Tor many years avail |
10 an mmenS. majority OF our |
practitioners. Hence. IN. chic.
reason for the mistakes in diagnosis. Ia
every instance. however. the ex-
ceptious having been very rare. exT-srt>
have declared the disease - be gen
uiuc small pox. Now. these facts have
been before he medical public for at
least a year. and one would think that
they would be given due weight il CON
ing 20 Il conclusion. but TO our mind
the ang feature Of the position OF
those denying the diagnosis of small
poN has been almost their lnvariable con
tention that the diSeaS- was chicken 10
even when occurring IN adults. We are
sure We are not expressing Il too
strongly when We say that every physi-
clan that can fairly claim 10 be well-in-
formed knows that chicken pox i 80 rare
il adults that il is practically unworthy
OF consideration in making a diagnosis
OF an eruptivc disease in Il person pass
the period OF childhood We VIII wage<
that not one per cent Of the physicians
OF North Carolina ever saw n single case
OF chicken poN in a grow person IN the
ten years preceding 1898. n~otwithstand-
ing its frequent prevalence among the
children of their clientele. Then, why
50 many cases Of chicken o now when
il IS known Of all men that genuine smah
pox. although frequently atyplcal IN
form, is widely prevalent.
GIVE 1T \ BIG NAME.
We hope that hereafter any physician
who feels il incumbent on him TO up
hold the proyerb, doctors differ" when
the case under consideration is an adult,
and especially If the history Of recent
successful vaccination is not clear. viii
fall back on something else han chick
| en- pox-say "impetigo contagiosa'-it
| sounds bigger-or Cuban Itch or 'eie-
| plant itch" or Georgia bumps o.
"any other old thing" But testing aside,
this is a very serious matter. as we
know from experience. This refusal 10
| accept the diagnosis of small pox. which,
with very rare exceptions. has always
| proved to be correct, by a few physicians
not many We are glad TO say-has
| done much harm in our State. 1t has
furnished L rallying cry for those OPP
| posed to vaccination, it has undermined
public opinion, and it has supplied an ex-
cuSe for lnactiOn to Weak-kneed ofh'
cials. AS every one knows, p~romptncs.
and t~horoughness of action upon the ap
pearance Of a case of small poX in Z
community, in isolating the case and al
who have been exposed, and in vaccinat
ing all the people, are absolutely neces
sary to its complete control. The kick
ers" impede and delay this action. anc
in so far interfere with the welfare o.
the people.
We admit, Of course, the right OF eveTc
man to his own opinion, but VIZ deny tn
right to an unnecessary public expires
sion OF that opinion when it is calculated
to endanger the lives and prosperity O
his ~neighbors.
DUTY OF DOCTORS.
In the face of the conditions hat nov
confront us, it seems to us, with all du'
Difference, that the proper attitude o
the patriotic physician towards small-po!
is this: If he has not seen the case. h
case, he cannot, of course, give an opln
ion as to rhe diagnosis, but If asked I'll
rcctly he should Say-aS the preSen
state of affairs would fully l~ustlfy-tha
he does not know. not having seen Il
but that in view Of the wide dissemina
ton Of the disease throughout the Stat
and country, it Is most likely small poN
and advise the puestioner to be vacc1
mated with ali under his control AT once
If he has seen the case first and ha
the slightest doubt about its nature i
should call a consultation Immediately
II there is still reasonable doubt abOu
it after careful consideration, an eXpcI
should be asked for. In the meantim
he should give the people the benef
OF the doubt, which is the accepted rul
under such circumstances, and althoug
personally he might honestly believe it I
be some other disease, he should bur
his W opinion for the time. and to q
questions say: 1T is doubtful. Be va
cinated.' This course should also /
pursued by consultants.