Bisbee daily review., 1911-02-17
SPREAD IF SMALL POK HERE NOT
 PROBABLE

PHOENIX, Feb. t6-El Psso's nearness to Arizona makes the sub ject of the handling of epidemic diseases in that city one of natural interest in Arizona. pr. E. s. God frey. secretary of the Arizona board sf health. recently received letter rom the city health oflcer of El Ease concerning the handling of smallpox, which is made public for several reasons. one being the gen eral information it contains respect ing smallpox and vaccination An ether is that it is pleasing to know that while Fl Paso has been re- sorted for a long time as harbor- ing an epidemic of that plague, it is not epidemic, will mt become so and the few cases that have devel eped are very carefully looked after. Ia this connection it is timely to state that Phoenix might have had an outbreak had it not been for the vigilance of the local authorities. Several weeks ago a man became in Of smallpox in a local lodging house. He was accompanied by his wife and both were removed to the poor farm where quarters were pre- pared for them. Both had the d's- ease and both recovered. All others in the building were vaccinated and GnSiCfanf time has elapsed to assure that there will be 10 further infection from that source.
 It is proper as an introduction ts the letter from Fl Paso. to recite the facts which called it out. Some time ago Dr. Godfrey received a letter from a physician in one of the cities of southern Arizona. say ing that smallpox was reported prev slent in El Paso and owing 70 the great travel between that town and El Paso. especially among the poor CT classes of Mexicans, the local board of health advised a ouaran- nne against Fl Paso, but could not well undertake it unless all southern Arizona towns did so.
 Br. Godfrey replied that he did net favor a quarantine for various reasons. The first was that Fl Paso's afTlictiox was only reported and not established. Another was that he did not believe wholesale auarantining of towns is a proper method of prevention from the stand points of either efficacy or economy. Vaccination, he contends is the prop CT preventive for both the present and the future. Germany having practically eliminated the disease fro1z that nation by that method no longer quarantining even the per sons who have the disease He good results, '-e spending of ar amount of money equal to that proposed to be spent in quarantin ing, in providing free vaccination Q 10 all who wish it and compulsory vaccination cf inmates of jails and hospitals. employees of the county etc, and in a general crusade fol better sanitation and looking aftei health conditions in congested res' denee districts.
 Then he advised publicity wher ever a case was found and a tru, statement ir every case as to vheth CT the patient had ever been vac cinated. and when. In explanation pr. Godfrey stated that in nc cas- of smallpox reported in Arizona dur Ing 1916 had the patient ever beel
 vaccinated. He also urged that tn
 public, and especially the Mexican
 of the territory, shoud be instructe
 ss to the reliability Of yaccinatio
 as a preventive measure and tha
 vaccination when done should nc
 be done by the promiseuous use (
 points by inexperienced and uncleal
 ly persons but that it should |
 properly done by aseptic method
 He concluded by saying that Il
 local board had authoritT to 1ua
 azIiIe ]. il so elected bIr he v II
 not advise 1t.