The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-01-24
What Vaccination Did.

Commissioner Of Health Samuel g.
Dixon has received the following letter
from John T. Hyatt, of Jersey Shore,
Pa, former Vice-Consul at Santiago,
telling of Mr.. Hyatts personal expe-
rience in fighting smallpox with vac
cine virus:
Jersey Shore. Pa, Jan. 4. 1906.
Hon. Samuel G. Dixon, Commissioner
of Health, Harrisburg, Pa;
Dear Sir-As at Lock Haven and
other parts of the state there is so
much opposition to vaccination, as re-
quired by the Act of June Is, 1895, l
feel constrained to write you some OF
my own experiences and observations
with reference to that subject.
was American Vice-Consul at SAINT
iago De Cuba from 1893 to 1897 inclu-
sive. The influx to Santiago from the
rural districts, where. on account Of
the revolution, it was very dangerous
to live, was very heavy, and particu-
larly after the inhuman reconcentra-
ton order OF General Weyler. In 1895
industry was stihed and poverty and
starvation were reigning supreme at
Santiago. meat selling as high as Toe.
and 81 a pound, eggs at 10c. apiece, and
other things at proportionate prices.
At this time yellow fever and small
pox broke out in the most virulent
form. 1t was estimated at the time
that during that year there were 10000
cases of yellow fever and 10000 cases
of smallpox in the city of Santiago.
AS | recollect It now, the death rate
from these two causes alone in that
city assembled to a level of from 60 to
100 deaths per day.
The Spanish government, unmindful
of the welfare of the people, took little
or no steps to stamp out the scourges,
and although private enterprise i'm
ported a considerable amount OF vac
cine virus, yet the Indifference OF the
authorities and the opposition OF the
illiterates, being perhaps about rs per
cent. of the population, prevented any
considerable amount of vaccination.
No efforts were made at quarantin-
ing. Those suffering in various stages
of smallpox walked about the streets,
mingling with the people unmolested,
and many of them came into the con-
sulate on business. Smallpox broke
out in nearly all of the houses in the
vicinity of the consulate. One man,
remember particularly, afflicted with
the dreadful disease in It's continent
form, lay in my plain sight in the open
air under the caves of a house stand
ing back in the adjacent lot, not more
than 40 feet from where | worked at
my desk, with the breeze blowing from
him to me, and saw this man die and
his corpse carried away.
My father and mother and wife were
with me at this time, and as soon as
the smallpox broke out we were all
vaccinated, although we had each been
successfully vaccinated in previous
years. The vaccination took slightly
with each member of our family, and
we were all vaccinated regularly there.
after every month or two, in order tc
use every possible precaution, but the
vaccination did not take in any cast
practically after the first application
Whenever fresh virus came to the
consulate from the States we distrib
uted the supply where 1t seemed to bt
most advisable. Although constantly
exposed to continent smallpox fol
nearly two years none of my famil!
took the disease. Neither did Others a
Santiago during that eventful perio(
who were careful to be successful,
vaccinated, as | recollect now from in
quiries then made, although the deaC
wagons were carrying such a continu
Gus freight to the cemetery that 1t wa
common thing for the sexton and hi
help when night fell to find 20 or 81
more corpses on their hands for inter
ment than they were able to bury, ant
which they had to leave out all nigh
in the cemetery and bury in the morn
ing
II this letter can be of any help t
you in your magnificent work of en-
Tightening the people of this Common
wealth on the importance of vaccina
tion, you have my permission to use II
Very respectfully yours,
JOHN T. HYATT.