The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-07-22
SHALL pox IN THE STATE.
Ills Important That Everyone Should be
Successfully vaccinated.

SuCGcSotutiy soSSiuoAOu'
The State Eoard of Health announ-
ces that there has been an alarming in
crease in the number of cases of small
pox, and in the virulency of the dis
ease in South Carolina during the
present year. The death rate from
this loathsome disease now reaches
twenty per cent.
Owing to the vigilance OF the Board
of Health Of this city and the prac-
tice of general vaccination small pox
has been pretty we'll kept out of Sum
ter. A few cases appearing here in
February were promptly knocked out
by quarantine and wholesale vaccina-
tion which were resorted to by City
Council and Board Of Health.
Every now and then case will be
brought here by some struggling
darkey, but as the population Of the
city is well yaccinated the disease is
checked rapidly. Health Officer Rear
don says that there is always a number
of people who dodge vaccination and
he advises all who have not been re-
Gently vaccinated to submit to that
operation Immediately as they are
liable to contract the disease at any
time. Most people imagine that be-
cause there is no small pox in the city
that there is no danger of unvaccinat-
ed persons contracting the disease. 1t
is not at all necessary to come in con-
tact with an individual infected with
the disease in order to contract small
pox, but there are many ways In which
it may be contracted. Persons who
have repeatedly tried vaccination with
out success should keep on being vac
cinated until it taxes as they are
often periodically immune to vacci-
nation and small pox, but there may
come a time soon after vaccination has
failed to take'' when if exposed to
small pox you will contract the dis
ease. These apparently mysterious
conditions are accounted for by expert
sanitarians in different ways, but the
fact remains that there is danger in
delaying frequent vaccination, because
it has failed to "take'' a number of
times. AS long as it fails to take"
it does not cause you any pain nor in
conveience; but makes you feel reason
ably safe for the time being. Another
repeated warning sounded by the Sum
ter Health Officer is against the belief
that large liberated running sores
during the period of vaccination,
which, when healed up leave unusually
large vaccination marks or pits, " are
successful vaccinations. AS matter
of fact these large ulcerated running
sssloughed out" vaccinated areas are
much more evidence of mixed infec-
tion, produced by impure virus or sub
sequent poisoning of the vaccinated
area, than Of successful vaccination.
In view of the warning sounded by
the State Board Of Health and the fact
that it does not cost cent to have
your vaccination marks examined IN
order to determine whether you have
been successfully yaccinated, it would
seem wise to be vaccinated again II
you have not been successfully vac
cinated within six years or to have
your vaccination marks examined in
order to determine whether previous
vaccinations were successful or not.
Small pox is now serious disease, as
it Invariably proves to be the longer
it remains in a section Of country, and
unless tits checked by successful vac
cination it will become scourge and
undoubtedly result in many deaths in
each community in proportion to the
number of persons who we're never vac
cinated at all OF were unsuccessfully
vaccinated as the case might be. The
health officer has received a supply OF
pure fresh glycerinized vaccine virus
which does not swell the arm nor pro-
duce unusually sores. He is under
standing orders from the City Council
and Board of Health to examine all
previous vaccinations and to vaccinate
all persons free of charge.
He will vaccinate at his Office in City
Hall or will call at residence if tele-
phoned for. Phone No. 25 City Hall.
Officers hours-11 to II O'Clock.
The State Board of Health urges all
local Health Boards to see to it that
all citizens are successfully vaccinated.
Persons going off for the summer
season see to 1t that they are successful
ly vaccinated, or they are likely to
come in contact with the disease or
some one who has been in contact with
a case and is carrying the germs OF
the disease in his clothing.