Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-02-26
cnNrAGIOuS DISEASES.

exchanges aud IS, 900 stations.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.
To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Noting in the Gszslte Of recent date,
q resolution presented BY the chairman
Of the council providing for more geo.
eral vaccination In the interests OF The
school children, which caused Gen.
siderable debate, would ask small
space In the columns Of your valuable
paper to make few Inquiries. would
like 70 quote Councilman Birrell, who
advances the opinion ''thst the laxlty Of
enforcement OF the laws on the subject is
responsible for the spread Of contagious
diseases" Now who Is responsible for
the enforcement Of ga laws? To judge
from the conditions which exist in our
community today, 10 the fact that child
ren from infected homes are permitted
10 attend the schools without remon-
STRANGE or restraint, thereby spreading
infection hr adcsst, | should gay tiese
was no one responsible. sm rela y
informed that all physician Gao do Is
to report auy case OF Injection to our
health officer, who then orders the
promises placsrded, after which there Is
90 further effort made to prevent the
spread of the disease; the occupants Of
the premises being perDaitted to 60 and
come at will and mingle and mix with
men, women aud children Ia busiDe.s,
on the streets, Ia various gatherings, st
church, In social gatherings, ct fair
rooms, such IS our late Masonic fair; in
the school or 10 fact any where they
msy choose 10 60 and no effort made 10
restrain them in any way shape or man
ner. / have it from o1e OF the most
reputable physicians Of this city tnat
whooping cough is spread BY those in
the house with it, who may not be al.
fectei themselves, bat are Ia site0daace
on some child with 1t ard then 90 out
and spread it irom their clothing
know OF one In lance where there is
whooping cough Ia the house and the
children not suffering with it are stleud-
lug The public school every day. rhia
has referende TO nhooping cough, bu.
have no doubt applies equally with
scarlet fever, one OF the most malignant
contagious disessss, so called vsriolOid,
chicken p0x and any or all other iBftc-
tious diseases. l note also the resola-
ton referred to the committee on gem
ersl laws, "Whertas for several years
smsslpox Of very mild type aud absO-
luiely without dagger tU lie has pre-
vailed ia this city," Well, now that is
unique, livery mild without danger to
lile." I have always been led to believe
that any form of smallpox vas danger
COS 70 life; that genuine case ot small.
pox can be taken from the miIdest foIm
CT variolcid aud such instances are on
record where the patient not only took
smallpox but died, aud If our dis!in-
guisbed representatives. in Council Sc
sembled have such an idea il ia time
they looked up some good authority and
amended their opinions and proceed sc
once to prevent the NaatOn spread Of
these diseases oil over The land, by the
pa aiding OF prisoner st night suffering
from this mild smallpox, around or
streets looking for some lgporaat negro
to take him in and take csrs of him.
thereby making it m0se liable TO spread.
He had by IA, better been kept where
he YVES, ia the jail, where he could have
had constant watching and where, at
least, a semblance Of quarantine could
have been maiptsined and not subjected
oar wives and childrea to the miserable
infection. also note It was suegest
& at our committee on general laws had
cut what's being done along this line 10
other cities snd rep RI 10 Council. Ia
the mean time | suppose We sre to 90
along and trust in providence, making
no Effort II protect our women aud
children FROM the contagiOD, which Is 80
wide spread ia our midst. Wal, | have
pr iaIih 10 sn all wise pfovio nee, 10
ore can have NOR, and | tbi K but Tor
the miraculous intervention OF some I'M
Sc power, We wonld all now be suffer.
Ing from one form or another OF tbs
various atfiistions in our midst, but
slsU think il is time to act aud take
some radical mans tn prevent The con-
tinusDce tf these dieeises for seyersI
years, CT until We have I'll passed to
the greai beyond. They do it elsewhere
aud The means employed in ether p'aces,
large ard small, is to isolate the infected
houses and msiuIain strict qusrcnlioe,
which is The only way Of ss op az su;i
things oul, aud our little CITY should
provide some place where this mild,
harmless smHllpOx, could be iakeD and
tlea ed in iTolstion. X