The Washington times., 1911-03-11
VACCINATION WINS
SMALLPOX FIGHT
Pest Has Been Practically
Eradicated From the
Philippines. !

Systematic vaccination has practically
eradicated smallpox in the Philippine
Islands, according to report issued
today by the United States Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service.
The quarantine and public health SER
vice of the islands is under the direc-
tion OF the Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service, and the officer III
charge of the work for several years
has been Passed Assistant Surgeon VIC
tor G. Heiser, who, with Assistant Sur
geon Robert Oleson, is author Of the
latest smallpox bulletin. These experts
say.
AT probably no time in the worlds
history has the efficiency of vaccination
as a preventive for smallpox been SO
conclusively and effective demonstrated
as in the Philippine Islands since Amer
lean occupation. The evidence of its
value is incontestible."
No Smallpox Deaths.
During the Spanish times it was neces-
sary each year during the dry season
to erect In Manila a large, temporary
hospital. to which the many hundreds of
victims of smallpox could be taken. The
great majority of them died.
During the past live years not one
person who had been successfully vacci-
mated during the five previous years has
died from smallpox in Manila, and no
death from smGllDox has occurred in
Manila since Jure, 1909.
The systematic vaccination of the peo-
pie of the six provinces near Manila,
approximately 1,000,000, was completed
in 1907. In these six provinces there
was, during Spanish times, an annual
smallpox mortality of at least 5000 per-
sons. Since 1907 not one person who
had been vaccinated had died of small
pox in this area. and only a few scat
tering cases have occurred.
In May, 1904, the United States army
transport Liscum left Manila with
total of 80 persons, passengers and
smallpox broke out aboard the vessel,
the victim being an unvaccinated child
in the steerage. Examination showed
that all but three persons on the ship
had been vaccinated. Within a period
of two weeks these three, unvaccinated
persons were stricken with the disease.
and not one of the 2S9 persons on board
contracted it.
Strenuous Health Campaign.
IN one province the Philippine author
ities. after a strenuous campaign Of vac
Cinatiol, sought to eliminate every pos
sible opportunity for the temperance
of the disease. The principal danger
appeared 10 be permitting the 1900 chill
dren born annually to remain unpro-
tected. Four experienced men were EN-
ployed 20 make continuous trips through
the province. visiting each village at
least twice a wear. These men OBTAIN
the birth records and never leave a COM
munity untfl every infant has been sue
Cessfulv vaccinated.
Prior TO 1906 this province had an an
nuaI death rate from smallpox of be
tween 5000 and 4,OOO After systematic
the deaths in the third quar-
ter of 1906 were POS: fOr the fourth quar-
ter, eighty; and then, after the infant
was begun. there were, in
the first quarter of 1851, eight deaths
Since that time, four years, no death
from smallpox has occurred in this prov
ince.
These are but a few of the specific m
stances cited in the report issued today.
Besides reducing the number of deaths.
has reduced the virulency Of
smallpox in the Philippines. The dis
ease has become mild. relatively infre-
Quent, and seldom fatal.