The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-08-23
TO GUARD AGAINST SMALL pOX.

The Maryland State Board OF Health
are adopting the most strenuous means
to prevent the spread of small pox this
winter. They consider that there is DC.
casion for the adoption of strict sanitary
measures against this dread malady.
The following circular has been sent to
the Local Boards of Health.in the counties:
TO THE LOCAL BOARD OF HEALTH:
For the past three years Maryland has
been constantly threatened with serious
invasion of small pox. In that time II
out of the % counties of Maryland have
been invaded by small pox. There have
been Al outbreaks, and in 80 instances
the disease was confined to the house in
which it was first discovered. Theexac,
number of cases which occurred in these
Al outbreaks is not known, but it is
known that the eleven instances in which
the disease was permitted to spread be-
yond the house first infected gave rise to
more than three fourths the total num-
Der. In Baltimore City during the same
period the disease has in no instance
spread beyond the house first infected.
During the three years there have been
in the counties over four times as many
cases of small pox as i'll the city OF Balti-
more. One county had twenty oddcas
of small pox i'll one year against Balti-
more's 4S cases in three years. 1tcannot
be said that the State as whole has done
very badly. A few of the county out
breaks have been as we'll handled as those
in Baltimore City. five should compare
our records with those of neighboring
results of our efforts, but the State has
not done as well as is easily possible, nor
as well as public safety and business in
terests demand.
The approaching winter promises a
wider prevalence of small pox i'll he
United States than the country has ex-
perienced in thirty years. All the signs
point that. and it is therefore important
for all the Local Boards ofHealth to con-
slider the prospect, make sure of their de-
lenses, and prepare in advance definite
plan of action. After invasion occurs it
is not easy to get land for an isolation
house, nor to make reasonable contracts
for medical attendance, nursing and sup
plies. Among the local health officers
there may be some who have accepted
Office believing that during their terms no
small pox would appear. The contract
with local officers does not include
medical attendance on cases of small pox
and no local board of health can expect
its cfficer to render such service unless he
is fairly paid. The local boards ofhealth
have a right however to expect their
medical officers to investigate outbreaks
of small pox, and this will include the
visiting OF infectious cases whenever the
matter of diagnosis is in question. There
will be no room in Maryland this winter
for local officer who is unwilling to see
a case of small pox. The local board
should come to definite understanding
with their executive officers on these
points. Vaccine physicians should be
instructed to visit the schools on the
opening day and vaccinate all who need
it. The school board should be advised
that there is urgent need of rigid enforce
ment of the vaccination law so far as it
relates to school children.
To take counsel upon this subject at
the present time is but ordinary prudence.
To postpone consideration until small
pox appears may mean that you will take
counsel of foolish, unreasonable alarm.
Yours very truly
JOHN S. FULTON
Secretary.