Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-05
THE PREVALENT ALARM.

the southwestern part Of the city has
unfortunately created feeling OF
alarm which Is doing great injury to
business. II Is driving trade away and
preventing the influx Of visitors, That,
however, is not the most serious Of the
effects It Is producing. A feeling OF
terror is creeping over the inhabitants
Of Salt Lake and 1t appears to be fed
by persons who ought TO use their In
fiuence to allay instead Of increase It.
Even II it Is true that genuine cases OF
smallpox are under treatment, there Is
no necessity for the fright which some
people are suffering from. There Is
still great doubt, however, as to the
character Of the eruption which APP
pears on the bodies Of persons now af-
ficted.
1t Is claimed by many persons who
are familiar with smallpox. that in a
number Of instances. at least. In which
II has been decided that smallpox is the
malady, only aggravated cases Of
chicken-pox actually exist. This dis
ease has been epidemic quite recently
in many parts Of this State, and the
pnstules that appear on the faces Of the
patients In a number OF instances are
larger than usual, and have much the
appearance OF smallpox, but the hlgh
fever and the deathly sickness which
attends the more virulent disorder. are
absent Most of the alleged cases Of
smallpox have been without those dis
tinctiye symptoms, and the peculiar
and offensive odor which mark
the foul disease, and are be-
lieved by persons competent 10
give an opinion on the subject,
not to be genuine cases even Of yarlo-
lold.
However, we DO not wish to say any
thing to prevent or hinder the precau-
tons which physicians and the board Of
health and other proper authorities see
nj to establish and require The pub
lie health must be protected, and wise
measures should receive support from
all sensible people. But there is no oe-
casion for the scare which is growing
In force and which seems to be encour-
aged in many quarters.
II is to be expected that most Of the
orthodox members Of the faculty viii
favor general vaccination, but It is use
less for any OF them to lay down the
dogmatic rule that vaccination Is a
sure preventive Of smallpox" Facts
and figures demonstrate the contrary
II Is an open question whether vacclna-
ton acts at all In the manner claimed
for II. There are many evidences in
support Of the proposition that 1t pali-
ates and In some instances prevents the
disease, These, however, are met with
contrary testimony which leaves the
unbiased investigating mind IN doubt.
The controversy win go on and re-
ceiye supporters on either side. II
should be conducted with respect FOR
the views Of dlsputants, and without
those too positive statements which are
commonly used In such a contention.
There is this point, however which
should be borne in mind by those per-
sons who are so anxious 20 force their
views upon others. There Is no law or
ordinance to compel people to put into
their children's bodies poisonous mat
ter against their will Such attempts
will be met with indignant protests, and
II necessary violent resistance.
Another thing: Doctors who state
that no ill-results ever come from vac.
cinatlon either expose their ignorance
or weaken their veraclty. There are
instances in this city, today. Of persons
recently yaccinated whose limbs have
swollen and turned purple. causing
them great suffering and alarm, That
may be a small aHllction compared with
smallpox, but II refutes the positive
assertions rashly made by men who
profit by the practice OF vaccination.
The Deseret News does not wish TO
prevent any person from resorting 10
vaccination or any other supposed
remedy for the spread Of disease Il is
opposed to assaults upon the liberty Of
the citizen TO the extent which some
reckless people propose. The quaran-
tine is frequently a necessity. II should
be strictly observed when imposed by
the proper authorities. Schools and
public gatherings should be suspended
when absolutely necessary. We do not
believe, however. that there is any rea.
son for such extreme measures al pres.
ent.
Cleanliness OF person and Of home and
its surroundings; OF business places and
those contiguous TO them the removal
OF refuse matter; greater care IN bodily
conditions, and the separation Of per-
sons who are believed to be suffering
from the disorder which occasions SO
much fear are all prevenuves that
should be paid attention to. II the blood
is kept In healthy condition. con-
tagion will be improbable. Il is GER
tain that terror and alarm will do no
good. II Is sure that spreading exag.
gerated reports will work great deal
Of injury.
Scarlet fever and other disorders have
proved far more fatal In this State than
smallpox, and II every case OK the lat
ter IS as reported which We do not be-
lieve, there is no occasion for the ter
ror that is being spread and fostered.
Let US try 10 establish public confidence
and hygienic conditions, and the dis
rder. whatever 1t is, which has afflicted
few Of the inhabitants OF the State
will soon be stamped out and win dis
appear.