The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-12-02
SMALLPOX
Warning Sent out by State
Board Of Health.
There Have Been 5000 Cases i'll
Kentucky Since 1898 and
800 Deaths.

Office of the State Board Of Health,
Bowling Green, Ky. To the Health
officials, Physicians and People ct
Kentucky: Since January. 1898,
smallpox has prevailed, moresor less
extensively, In every county IN Ken
lucky, with total of over $4,000
cases and 500 deaths, and costing In
cash more than one-halt million dol
lars besides an estimated less from in
reference with business and travel OF
something over one and one.half mil
Hon dollars. Properly expended, this
some would have been more than
enough to have guarded the health
interest OF our people tor a generation
besides keeping every resident of the
state vaccinated so that the existance
OF anything but an imported case of
smallpox would have been impossi-
bic.
With the advent of cold weather
cases OF the disease are being reported
In widely separated sections In many
counties, aud we feel that 1t is again
our duty to warn our officials and
people of the necessity of prompt
action to prevent serious a1d extern
siye local outbreaks. Fortunately,
the prevention OF this disease is as
certain and safe as it is cheap and
easy, and although it is unlawful to
remain unvaccinated at any time, In
the face of existing conditions intel
ligent people should not wait for the
law to force them to evident duty.
Vaccination and revaccination, prop.
erly done with reliable virus, is sure
preventative, and Is entirely free from
danger. 1t should always be done
by competent physician, with clean
hands aud instruments, at three
points, at least an inch apart on a
we'll cleaned arm, aud should dry
thoroug ally before the sleeve is drawn
down. Fresh, reliable commercial
virus can be procured, but 1t Is diff
cult to keep it active and the
board prefers and recommends the
use of humanized virus especially
In The country districts where the
family physician can select 1t himself
from the arms of healthy children and
young girls. Il Is more certain to
take, causes l-ss soreness and Is be-
Neved to give better and longer pro-
lection. If the scabs are wrapped In
tissue paper, sealed up and put in a
dry cool place, they can be kept al.
most indefinitely.
Physicians everywhere should be
on their guard and should isolate the
first case and vaccinate all exposed at
once. Gown people almost never
have chickenpox. When unvaccinat.
ed grown people have a contagious
ernptive disease, under existing cir
cum stances they should be isolated
and treated as suspicious until the
health authorities decide 1t is not
smallpox. All should remem Der that
there are no such diseases as "ele-
phaut itch, " african itch, army
Itch, Cedar itch," or Cuban itch,"
and these are NEGRO itch" names Tor
smallpox. Exery person In the State
who has not already been vacOnated
should do so at once, and the igno-
rant or negligent should be compell- |
ed 10 protect themselves, tor the bene.
FL of their communities by the prop
er authorities. The laws on this |
subject are ample and sufficient, and
whenever smallpox spreads In any
community 1t Is the fault OF the health
officials and should be charg- |
ed to them. In preventing the spi cad
of this terrible disease this board asks |
and expect the support of all intelli-
gent people. Copies OF circulars, de-
scIibing the modern methods OF pre-
venting this and other contagious
diseases, may be had Tree Of expense
upon applications to the board at
Bowling Green. By order OF the
board.
!, NJ. MATTHEWS, NJ. ID.
President.
J. n. Nc ~oRMIcK, NJ. D., Secretary