Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-03-02
IMPORTANCE or VACCINATION,
DR.. ]. B. Hawkins Writes Forceiul
Article Asking Parents to Use
Precaution Relative to the
Smallpox Situation.

the Editor OF the Ledger. |
MEXICO, Mo, Feb. 25.-Will you
please give a little space that VI may
cali the attention Of parents, guard
ians and all whose business it is to
guard the interests of the children OF
the city, and to Impress them with
the Importance, just at this time, Of
having all persons, who have not been
vaccinated, or who need TO be re-
yaccinated; to attend TO this impor-
tant duty at once. We find that the
public generally is not sufficiently
precautions and that the means with
in reach of all to prevent or at least
modify the dangers Of contracting the
disease are not properly appreciated.
Vaccination is The only means known
to the profession by which the
public may, to a greater or less degree,
be protected from the dreaded ravages
Of this contaglon. Itat least modities
the possibility OF an attack, or II the
disease is contracted, IL ameliorates
the scourge and gives the patient a
much better chance in every way
against its virulence. We are satisfied
from a casual Investigation, that we
have a Thousand children in the pub
public schools and as many other peo-
pie Of all ages In the city equally ex-
posed TO a greater or less degree that
have never awaited themselves OF this
efficient preventative. We have
another death reported right here
within two blocks of the crowded and
business part II the city, which, with
all the jealous precautions, will spread
germs enough TO infect the whole pop
ulallan-am why are wcse4neaur10us?
II the parents of this own will visit
the homes or see on the streets these
little girls and boys, who have just
lately been the subjects of this cpl
demic Of smallpox, and see the marred
and disfgured faces OF the children
and then take the matter home to
their own children, they may be en-
lightened on the subjects. Should a
heartless friend appear on the streets
Ct Mexico with a bottle Of yitrol and
recklessly distigure the sweet faces Of
your children, there would go up such
a universal howl OF indignation; a cru
SADIE Of exterminators never to cease
until the country was rid of such a
monster.
And yet, parents, guardians, the
public officials, complacently fold their
hands, and for various reasons are
unconcerned while the most deadly
and repuisiye foe stalks the streets and
insidiously and unawares creeps into
your home and II it does not rob you
of your treasures altogether it will SO
mar and d~isfigure as to leave the
mark 10 of its shiny trail for life upon
the helpless and innocent prey.
There is not an intelligent and well
informed physician in Mexico that
does not recognize the truth Of what
we say that smallpox is in our midst
and 1t S here to stay and Well have 1t
In spite Of all the precautions Isolated
cases, perhaps for months to come, and
who is wise enough to tell the next
victim Of itY
Mr.. Editor, disregard who will,
underestimate who will, we propose,
for the sake Of common justice and In
the interest OF humanity, to keep the
subject before the citizens OF Mexico
until we are rid Of the presence OF the
plague, or the people rise up by COM
mon consent and submit toany known
precaution to eliminate this epidemic.
IL should be the duty Of the munich
pal authority to enforce an ordinance
to have any person who cannot show
a good scar, to be ~yaccinated and the
city TO pay the expenses, for those
who are not able to have it done, and
watch with Jealous vigilence and To
have a competent physician, n who
has had experience, to inspect all sus'
plcious characters stopping in the linn
its of the corporation.
But the cases we have had lately
have been homegrown and didn't
come from abroad. One or two OF
the first cases were contracted at the
Worlds Fair in st. Louis, but all the
recent cases have been contracted
here, and could have been prevented
by the proper precautions.
Mr.. Editor, we have heretofore been
accused of being a little bit excited,
over anious, captious or petulant, etc.
We can stand the criticism II the peo-
pie can risk the danger and shoulder
the responsibility.
Respectfully,
II II uAWUyne NJ n