The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-04-13
THE TIMES AND DI
A GRAVE MzNfiACe
VIRULENT TYPE OF SMALLPOX
NOW IN STATE.

Over One-Half Of Those Who Have
Been Stricken With 1t So Far
Have Died.
Ever since 1898 South Carolina
has been visited in various sections
with serious outbreaks of smallpox,
and in some places with epidemlcs
of the loathsome disease. 1t made
it's appearance in this city and 9TH
er parts of Orangeburg county some
years ago. The type of the disease
then prevalent was very mild, and
those who had it were not very sick.
Since 1898 sporadic outbreaks of
the disease occurred up to the pres
ent serious outbreak at Yorkville.
The history of smallpox as put
down in the books shows that at
first i often appears in mild form,
but if it is permitted to remain for
years it is liable to suddenly assume
a very deadly form, as is now being
proved at Yorkville. Science has
shown that the only safeguard
against contracting smallpox is by
vaccination. Suppose now that the
present virulent and deadly type OF
this disease, such as has killed six
out of ten victims in Yorkville, be-
comes widely prevailed or epidem-
ic.
With thousands of people in South
Carolina who have never been vaccl-
mated, what would be the death rate?
The cities and towns have a prob
lem confronting each of them, which
is perhaps overlooked by local health
authorities. To begin with, there
is an ever-increasing new popula-
ton in the cities and towns from
the country districts, owing to the
splendid school facilities Of incorpo-
rated municipalities.
The rural districts are almost en-
tirely without health regulations.
There are thousands of unvaccinated
people in the country districts, who
move into cities and towns. If CEN
sus was taken in every city and
town in this State with view to
Systematically determined just how
many unvaccinated people there are
in every city and town, the health
officials would very much surprised.
If the State health board rules and
in regard to not permit
ting any unvaccinated pupils to at
tend schools were enforced it would
the officers to see how many
pupils and even teachers have never
been vaccinated.
Yet, vaccination in the schools is
the surest method to reach ma
jortiy of the future citizenship of
every State. Superintendent of
schools, trustees, and teachers do
not like to enforce the rules as to
vaccination, simply be-
canso paronte object to their. children
being vaccinated. Thousands of
people say they prefer smallpox to
vaccination. And why? Simply be-
cause the majority of cases of small
pox heretofore have been mild, but
nevertheless filthy and loathsome.
But now that this disease has be-
come deadly and the mortality rate
very heavy, new condition con-
fronts those people who prefer small
poX to vaccination. From a COM
mercial standpoint, a serious out
break of smallpox in different por-
tions Of this State, with even 10
per cent death rate, much less over
so per cent mortality rate, as is the
case at Yorkville, would cause thou
sands, yes, hundreds of thousands
of dollars loss to the people of this
State.
Hundreds of cities in other States
would quarantine against the infect
ed sections and many against the
entire State of South Carolina. We
are sleeping over a volcano, so to
speak. The absence of SMALLPOX
in many cities and counties for sew
eral years and the mild type of
the disease heretofore have caused
the people to be over-careless.
But now that the general assembly
of South Carolina has provided funds
whereby the State health board fur
nishes vaccine virus absolutely with
out cost to all physicians and health
authorities; and, furthermore, when
it is considered that most munich
palities stand ready to have their
citizens vaccinated without charge it
does look as though all excuse has
disappeared.
The State health officer, DR.. c..
Fred Williams can do not better
service in the discharge of his Of
fetal duties than to advise the city
and county authorities and school
boards to begin campaign of vac
cination in this State. The local
health authorities had better see that
their citizens are successfully vac
cinated, and at once. All States
and municipalities governed upon
modern sanitary principles insist
that their citizens remain immune
to smallpox by periodical vaccna-
ton.