The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-24


healln mas prepared statement Of
smallpox conditions in Utah. which will
ne issued IN circular form and distrib-
utea throughout the state. In addition
70 the statement, the circular win con-
tain pictures Of the conhuent type Of
smallpox, and the declaration Of the
hrst presidency Of the Mormon church
counseiinS vaccination. The circular
follows:
For the. past three years smallpox has
T2AteilstFely prevailed throughout the
= iltSs plates having been introduced,
y II DeleNeQ, BY soldiers returning from
Cuba- The disease first made its apDear-
aIlce ln ( tan about a year ago. ana since
mat time the state has been visited win
IL e5-geIAlc more extensive than that
WEIGH mas been experienced by anv other
STATE ia the mon. despite the taVOring
ulated.
There have been reported to the state
board OF health by the local boards more
IMAM S-u3J cases, and through reliable
sources Of Information the conclusion IS
Warranted that there have been at least
Atu5 additional cases which have not been
LSpot eel mere nave been tWenty-siX
deaths and several hundred cases of the
severe continent type of the disease. The
percentage OF the latter IS constantly in
cTeasing, and there is grave reaso TO
rear that the epidemic will sooner or
LAter res lme d malignant type. The DIS
ease has occurred in LOO towns and viii
lagos. and in all but four counties.
Aside from the suffering, Disagreement
tt.
state mas sustained severe financial loss,
and today is confronted with the most
serious prObem in its history. 1t be-
comes the duty OF AL good citizens. as
we'll as boards of health. to earnestly
consider the situation. and DO all in their
power to combat and stamp out the terri
bic pest which has insIdiOusly gained
such firm fOOthOld that only the adOp-
ton of the most efficient and radical
measures viii prevent It's continuance
ana increased spread Tor years 10 come,
at the cost of lives. suffering and treas
ure beyond calculation
Comparison.
In this connection It is important to
study the probable causes for the exess-
siNe pEeEalence OF me disease in L tab,
pOpulous states In the first pace. it is
round that many people, because of its
5eneraiy mild character. have ignored
ana discredited the diagnosis of the med
zeal profession. and assuming That II WAS
what they styled Manila itch, cuban
Itch and various other imaginary dis
eases, have been disposed 10 regard II
llBhtiy- conceaiing its presence and de-
hoerately exposing others.
UnfavorabIe Attitude.
Chiefly responsible, however for the
dlIIlcuity ana 1aIiure in suppreSsing the
outbreak has been the surprising attitude
81 the people generally toward vaccina-
ton the only recognized preventive In
other states the laws ana pubic senti-
menJ are such that when smallpox ap-
pears there is an immediate resort-for
the most part vOUntary-to universal
vaccination and re-vaccination resulting
IN a very short period OF time in the com
plete eradication of the malady, owing
10 the fact that no susceptible persons
muniJy.
1t is apropos to quote from a recent ed
llorial by Or. George f. Shrady of the
New York Medical Record who is one
of the most eminent medical authorities
in the world:
The outbreak of SMALLPOX on the west
% a TrrH far rn0H rG-
peclaliy alarming. will doubtless tend to
Impress upon the minds OF its inhalf-
iJants the need of vaccination and e
vaccination Indeed, II il has this effect.
the activity of the disease-reStricted
though it be-will prove a blessing in
disguise. II speaks volumes for the in
tellfgence Of the American people as a
whole, and of this state in particular,
that there has never been evidence of
an organized opposition to vaccination.
Among a minority OF the lnha bitants of
the United States certain prejudice
against vaccination exists, but with the
bulk of the population the sentiment with
regard to the operation IS one of apathy.
or rather Indifference II is 50 long since
an epidemic OF smallpox on a large scale
and in a virulent form appeared in tnis
part of the country that many persons
are skeptiCal as 10 the hangers 70 De ear
ed from such an occurrence. Without
wishing IN any way 70 ACT tne part OF
alarmistS would nevertheless Sounc
a note of warning, and advise parents
not to be lulled mo a state OF Idise Sc
curity. The fact that as community
we are we'll protected cannot be denied,
but if the practice of vaccination be al
lowed to fan into disuse 1t IS impossible
to say for how long. this happy condition
of affairs will last"
Following the appearance of the cases
to which he refers. more tndn lsVlVVy1
neoDle were NacCIuated IN New YORK IN
three weeks during December last Win
ont the occurrence of a single serious
complication When the fact is borne IN
mind that this is about four times ds
many people as there are = Otan II LuILl-
iehes a commentary on the safety OF the
procedure
Cause of Attitude.
The testimony Of Dr. Shrady to the in
telligence Of the American people as
whole and Ihe statement that the chief
Indifference arising from long immun-
ity from smallpox epidemics. applied
year ago to the people of this state as
much as to those in other parts OF the
country. and there would have been no
unusual difficulty In securing the volun
tary protection, by vaccination, Of the
bulk of the people, and consequent
prompt arrest of the outbreak, had ii
not been for the unexpected, Virulent Op-
position which was inaugurated and Wig
Orously pursued by a certain newspaper.
There is indispUtable evidence that
through the one-sided, perverted repre-
sensations OF this paper, the general
apathy concerning vaccination was
changed into active antagOniSm, intensi-
fled and spurred on by other fanatical
agitatOrs known as MISREPRESENTATION
lists"
1t is not the present purpose to criticise
or comment on the course pursued by the