The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-12-21
THE TWO NIAcARAs.


There are a number of cases OF
smallpox in Keokuk- more than there
ought to be. and more than there
would be if proper precautions hal
been taken to prevent the spresd OF
the disease. TIL ere are two methods
of controlling smallpox isolation and
vaccination. Officially keskuk de-
ponds ON isolation alone. The yacc.-
nation is done on individual initia-
tive.
An instructive comparison as to
efficiency in handling smallpox was
made recently by DR.. w. A. Evans In
his health department in thu Chicago
Tribune. He took for the purpose
the two cities of Niagara Falls, n. Y,
and Niagara Falls, Ont. Smallpox was
imported into Niagara Falls, N. Y.
on April 3, 1912. There is no c3mpul-
sorry vaccination ordinance in that
town. There is good deal OF anti.
vaccination sentiment extant. The
percentage Of unyaccinated people
among their population is above the
average.
The ineffici ency of Niagara Fails,
\. Y. in handling smallpox is shown
by the figures of the United pubic
health service and the New York de-
partment OF health. They are, there
fore, official and trustworthy.
The records OF the New York state
hao 1ny, TIM ch I1k of
smallpox have been reported from
Niagara Falls each month since April,
1912.
The highest number Of cases was
eighteen in February, 1913, the
lowest, enc, in October. 1912. The
total number of cases up to Nov. 8
was 143. The state record shows 1872
cases up to Oct. l. and the govern
ment record for three weeks In Octo-
Der and one in November shows
eleven additional cases.
1t will be noticed that tn. epidemic
has kept up straight through two hot
seasons. Smallpox disappears in hot
weather under any effort at suppress
sion worth while.
Immediately across the river from
Niagara Falls, n. Y, is that other
summer resort, Niagara Falls, Ont.
Smallpox was imported into this city
in February, 1913. 1t developed in
the Trenable house, near the NJ C.
depot. At first they tried isolat on
and vaccination by moral suasion.
The city council voted down a com.
pulsory vaccination ordinance
/ The provincial board OF health
made its arrangements to quarantine
+ all Canada against Niagara Falls
Ont, whersupon the city general
council voted the proclamation FOR
vaccination. Seyenty-dve per cent
obeyed the proclamation. The school
Children were vaccinatei. The cpl
demic was speedily stopped. BY
May, Niagara Falls. Ont, was free
from the disease In all they had had
! forty-five cases.
! In one town the epidemic lasted
4 three months in ALL About one month
| after vaccination got under way in
earnest the epidemic was broken. In
the other town the epidemic is now
in its twentieth month and still hangs
on. They will either change their
method or the disease will hang on
through the winter.
Twenty years ago smallpox cpl
denies in cities Of half million in
habitants kept up for several years
In the last ten years no large city
has had an epidemic keep mp through
the hot weather. Towns Of 10000
find It easy to end smallpox epi
denic In two or three months. And
yet here in this twentieth century, il
the Empire state, as DR.. Evans points
out, Is community which has had
this milestone around It's neck fol
twenty months, including two hot sea
CONS, and which seems helpless.