The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-11
ARE BEING MADE IMNUNES.
SCHOOL CHILDREN FEELING THE
PRICK OF VACCINE POINTS.

Counties In south Georgia the
Health and school Authorities De-
cided to Vaccinate Children in the
city and County Schools who Had
Not Already Successfully Under
gone the Operation - COIOred
schools in the City, Save One, Have
All Been Visited-COunty Teachers
Sending in Reports of Their Pro-
gress.
Many pupils of the public schools Of the
city and county have felt the prick OF
the vaccine point of late. The prevalence
Of smallpox in some of the counties Of
South Georgia was directly responsible
for the advent of the points just at this
time, though the school and the health
authorities have recognized the need for
all possible precaution against the spread
OF an epidemic disease among the chill
dren.
The closing of schools at Bruins wick had
much to do with the determination of the
authorities to at once see to it that there
should be no pupils in the schools here
who had not been vaccinated. 1t is be
lieved it will not be many days now be-
fore oil will be able to show satisfactory
evidence of their having had the virus
communicated to their systems and of its
having taken effect
No immediate fear of the spread of the
disease among the children Of the city or
county was apprehended, but Supt Otis
Ashmore and Health officer W. F. Brun-
ner decided at conference some days
ago mat it would, be well to adopt the
safeguard at once. The approach of the
dread disorder to Chatham county in any
thing like the violence it has shown IN
counties not very far distant would create
no little alarm If the children were not
found prepared and immune against 1t.
and il was for this reason, rather than
any local need, that it was decided to
begin the work of vaccination and push it
rapidly.
In the city there have been none other
than the colored schools visited by the
health officer as yet In the country dis
tricts, however, both white and colored
pupils have been vaccinated. Mr.. Ash
more said yesterday that the precaution
will also be taken in the white schools
of the city, though it has not yet been
decided just how the work will be under
taken.
About the white children but little sole.
itude is felt, as 1t is safe to say there
are but very few OF them who have not
been successfully vaccinat ted. One of the
rules of the Board of Education that is
strongly insisted upon is that there shall
be no pupil admitted who has not been
vaccinated successfully. The virus must
not only have been introduced into the
system, but must have taken effect
Every possible means is taken advantage
of at the opening of the schools to ascer-
fnf lath afN l,a III
cinated. The boys must disclose to male
teachers evidence of the virus having
taken effect and the girls must convince
the lady teachers. If a reputable physi-
clan has furnished certificate of success
fut vaccination, the pupil holding 1t is adj
mitted.
1t is about the pupils admitted on certif-
Gates that the only doubts of their being
immunes are entertained. 1t is believed
that the vaccination to which the physi-
clans testified may not all have taken
effect If such cases are found in the
white schools. it is quite probable that
there viii be more vaccine points resort
ed to.
Health officer Drummer vaccinated the
children in the colored schools about
whose immunity he had any doubt. He
visited all the schools, save that recently
established on Duffy street. The children
were by no means alarmed by his visits,
as the teachers saw to it that any false
apprehensions they may have felt were al
layed.
The colored parents! as a rule. were very
glad to have the health officer visit the
schools attended by their children The
vaccination cost them nothing at all. The
colored population is sufficiently well in
formed to know that the vaccine Is a
smallpox preventive, and objections
We're offered TO their children being in
oculated with it,
II was thought that there was more
danger to be apprehended among the coll
ored children than among the white if the
disease should make its appearance. and
it was for this reason and the condit ons
under which the colored people live maxi
ing them naturally more susceptible 10
the malady that the authorities decided to
yaccinate first in the colored schools.
During the last week the teachers in the
county schools have been busy with their
vaccine points. of which they were given
a supply when a recent visit was paid the
city. The points were furnished by the
city, though, as they were to be used in
the country districts, the Board of County
Commissioners agreed 10 pay for them.
The country teachers were directed by
Supt. Ashmore 10 report upon their prog
ress with the Vaccna lions. Some of them
have already done SO, showing the num-
bers of boys and girls that were made i'm
munes. While they Were in the city the
teachers were treated 10 object lessons in
vacciua ton, two or three children being
a. hand as subjects. Soap and water Were
used for the thorough cleansing of the
arms where the slight decorations were to
be made, and then the pricking process
was shown. The teachers were enjoined
10 proceed with their pupils in the way
that had been indicated with the small
subjects that We're practiced upon.
The reports from the country districts
indicate that the people have taken very
kindly TO the vaccination. The ignorance
that formerly protested against the use
Of the safeguard seems to have disappear
ed TO a great extent and parents are will
ling to have their children receive it,