The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-23
PROPER VACCINATION
THE ONLY SAFEGUARD
Health Officers Advice to
the Community.
GIVES COMPLETE IMMUNITY
Should Be Repeated Until 1t No Longer
Takes, as Otherwise it is Only
Partial Protection.

Some uneasiness is felt by the Health
Omcer over the recurrence of cases of
smallpox traceable TO no common
source OF contagion. No confidence is
placed in the idea often advanced that
sTordic cases of this disease arose
without contact with other persons af-
iicted with the malady.
Since January 1 nine instances have
occurred. in which it was impossible by
the most painstakinE investigation to
ascertain how smallpox was taken. The
conclusion forced upon the department
Is that persons with the disease inten-
tionally or otherwise. fail to report the
nature of the illness TO the health Off
Gals Dr. w. c. Woodward. the Health
Officer. admits that mild cases Of the
disease might occur when no physician
is called in, and persons. having small
pox might scatter il widely in ignor-
ance Of it's real nature. However. he
and his assistants fear that irresponsi-
bic or designing persons VINO object
to isolation and quarantine are pUrpos-
ly evading the sanitary laws OF The
District
The situation as viewed by DR. Wood
ward is serious. and the suggestion has
been made and considered or ordering
and enforcing general vaccination
throughout the city. Yesterday the
Health officer authorized the following
general statement on the situation:
Protection Through Vaccination
so long as there are reasonable
grounds for believing that known cases
OF smallpox have originated from some
case OF cases already in quarantine. it
t. not difficult TO predict the course Of
the outbreak with approximate certain
~. When, however. cases cannot be
traced to other cases already known to
e1ist, but spring up from unknown
sources. and especially when under such
conditions they occur in various sections
of the city. the inference is that there
have been and possibly still are patients
suffering from smallpox at large. Against
cases of this character IT is next TO i'm
possible for the Health Department TO
protect the community.
THE Department feels. therefore. that
the community should thoroughly under
stand the situation and that X should
understand further that each Individual
in the community can protect himself
by being efficiently vaccinated.
The efficiency OF vaccination as a pre-
ventive continues to be demonstrated
by the occurrence of cases of smallpox
IN this city almost altogether among
these who have never been successfully
vaocinated. the occasional exception be-
ing the occurrence OF a case OF smallpox
in a person vaccinated a long time be-
fore
Immunity May Be Partial
confers complete immunity against
smallpox for limited time. Such i'm
mUnity may. however. in exceptional in
stances be but partial even from the be-
ginning and patients having hut partial
immunity are those in whom cases OF
varioloid occur. Whether the immunity
conferred by a single vaccination is or
is not complete at any particular time
can be determined. and. IL il Is not com
riete. complete immunity can be secured.
bv re-vaccination. If immunity is com
picte any number OF vaccinations can be
performed and none of them will take. u
immunity Is partial vaccinations will
continue TO take until susceptibility TO
smallpox is exhausted In other words.
a patient who will not take smallpox
cannot be successfully vaccinated. and
a patient who can be successfully vac
ciuated is liable TO take smallpox.
TOO often people imagine that they
have been successfully vaccinated be
cause after the operation OF vaccination
they suffer from sore arms. Many.
probably almost all. OF the very sore
arms that follow vaccination and which
are commonly regarded as particularly
good takes and as insuring complete
protection against smallpox are not vac
cination sores at all. and a certain mum
Der Of them have no protecting power
They are simply uIcerating wounds due
10 lack OF cIeanI. ess on the part OF the
vaccinator or patient in connection with
the act OF yaccinating. OF with the sub
sequent care OF the abraded arm
Causes of Bad Results.
The vaccine virus on the market At
the present time is carefully prepared.
and Is. it is believed. in most cases not
responsible Tor such results. Bad re-
suits are due rather 20 the carrying OF
Objectionable material into the wound
with the instrument used for scarifyfug
the arm. through failure TO cleanse the
instrument or the arm before vaccina.
tiOn. or through failure 10 protect the
arm and 20 keep Il clean after the op-
Grafton. With precautions on these
points there is no reason under any or
binary conditions why vaccinations
should result even in any considerable
Inconvenience to the patient. and. as
stated before, IL is a certain protection
against smallpox n properly done ana
repeated until IL no longer takes"