Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-07-28
PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE

A year or two ago almost every part of
the country suffered from an infection of
small pox Of a virulent character. In
some. sections there was great and not
unreasonable alarm on the subject and
the total number of deaths from that dis
ease in this country was the largest that
had been known for years.
During the past winter small pox was
widespread, but had such a mild type that
it caused no considerable. excitement ex-
cept in few states.
There is danger Of too great sense OF
security and consequent neglect of plain
duty as a result of this experience.
The New York Medical Journal pub
LEGATION of high character, gives this time
ly warning
Let us not be too sure that there is
the ordinary short-lived safety in lapsing
for a time into neglect of the only known
prophylactic measure. Realizing the dan
ger of prophesying, we nevertheless must
express our fear that the coming winter
will witness a recrudescence Of the cpl
demic. and that the disease, in the event
of such an occurrence, may be shorn OF
its recent unaccustomed nildness. Small
pox epidemics that shoulder through the
summer not infrequently take on a greatly
augmented severity with the advent OF
cold weather. That may not be exempli-
fed this year, but we believe 1t prudent
to be on TIE lookout for such state OF
things" ~
Many a community has. to its sorrow,
neglected the duty the strict performance
OF which is thus impressively enjoined.
The able and reliable journal from which
we have quoted says further in its earnest
presentation of this very important mat
ter:.
Nothing but an epidemic seems capa-
BILE of rousing in the public mind any abid-
ing appreciation of the preventive value
of vaccination, and, 1t must me ADDED,
nothing else appears to remind most ply
sicians of their duty to see to it that every
child in the families under their care
shall be vaccinated at the proper age.
Most of us do not wait until there is some
definite threatening of serious disease be-
fore we get our lives insured; thus we
show how much more we think OF our
pockets than our health. But, even with
all that. few of us would pursue the wise
course of insuring in time were it not
for the persistent Importantly of the in
surance solicitors, whereby the men OF
business demonstrate with how much
greater ardor they prosecute their AFFAIRS
than that with which we physicians ac-
quit ourselves III the pIdSttSe VI pACFCA-
tive medicine-that highest branch OF our
art which we all exalt in theory, but so
many of us neglect in reality"
There is probably not a city in the Uni
ted States to which these remarks do not
apply; not one that might not profit by
needing them.
Atlanta is famously healthful, yet it had
more small pox last winter than we like
to have near us.
1t was of very mild type, it is true,
but the possibility of its return in a worse
form next winter must be considered.
Common sense demands that we shall
adopt and maintain vigorous preventive
policy against this disease, which breaks
on. every year in >many of our cities in
more or less virulent form.
The warning uttered by The New York
Medical Journal is only one of many that
have been given out from sources that
command respect and deserve attention.