The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-12-17
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIS
EASE Is GIVEN BY THE STATE
MEDICAL BOARD

Just at this time when smallpox
is prevalent in this section, as it has
been for several winters past, the
following information from the state
board Of health concerning the dis
ease will be read with interest:
Smallpox. one of the most conta-
gious as well as unnecessary diseases,
NAV be easily eradicated from Geor-
gia as well as any other state by the
simple process of vaccination, but to
accomplish this result vaccination
must be general, thorough and com
plete.
Unfortunately statistics as to small
pox in Georgia are lacking; they are
kept only by one or two of the large
cities. But in 1910 thirty-six states
reported 30,352 cases with AS
deaths. showing a marked increase
over the preceding year, both in num-
Der and death rate. Taking the states
around Georgia, Florida, with 1886
cases and y deaths, showed a mark
ed increase; Tennessee's report of 3
1919 cases was incomplete; North Car
DINA reported 4,2S1 cases, while
there were no reports from South
Carolina, Alabama or Georgia.
Prevalence of smallpox in Georgia
is not questioned; little is said of it
except when it becomes epidemic or
semi-epidemic in a particular local
ity; then a vaccination crusade is
started, but often too late to protect
many Of the victims.
Smallpox is one of the oldest of
epidemic diseases. There are refer
ences to it dating back 1000 years
before the christian era. In Europe
in the middle ages its death roll
would run as high as 100000 in a
single year. It was brought to Amer
lea early in the seventeenth century,
and has been more or less prevalent
here ever since.
Smallpox is considered unquestion-
ably a germ disease, but the germ is
one about which scientists as yet
know nothing. What they do know,
however, beyond all question, is how
to prevent it, Nearly everyone ex-
posed to it who is not protected by
vaccination or who has not had the
disease at some previous time will
contract it, 1t may be gotten by di-
rect contact, such as shaking hands
with one who has it, or indirectly by
sleeping in a bed which has been oc-
cupied by a smallpox patient. There
is reason to believe even more remote
contagion may take place. Every
case of it comes from some other
case, either directly or indirectly.
Ten days, two weeks or even
longer time may pass before the
symptoms develop. Then comes
severe chill followed by a rapidly ris-
ing fever and severe aching pains in
the back, joints or head After a
couple of days of fever rash appears,
usually first on the forehead, and the
fever subsidies. The rash, at first
pink or reddish splotches, smooth and
fiat, develops in a few hours into
little hard rounded bumps under the
skin. These spread over the entire
body, developing bIisters as they
grow. The patient again develops
fever, and the blisters, filed first with
a clear fluid, become filed with cor
ruption. The patient presents hor-
rible picture. The skin is covered
with mass of pus, the eyes are clos
ed by the swelling and the diseased
flesh gives forth a horrible odor. At
ter about twelve days the eruption
begins to heal, the blisters dry up
and finally the skin is covered with
fine scales from the top of the erup-
ton, which are believed to contain
the contagion of the disease. The pa
tient is contagious until all the pus-