Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-11-06
MUCHSMALLPOX
RAGING IN THE
COUNTRY

Reports come from various parts of
Henderson county to the effect that
the cases Of small pox are numerous.
Those infected with this dreadful
disease are not restricted to their
homes owing to the fact that small
pox is no longer quarantined under
the laws Of North Carolina.
They have been seen in the city dur
ing the last few days with their faces
showing the presence of the disease.
Physicians in general are advising
the people to be ~vaccinated. The ma
terial necessary to undergo this slight
operation can be bought from the drug
stores for only fifteen cents and by
reason of it being placed in uec close
reach of the people, they are Urged to
be v~accinated in order to inslie them
against infection.
The following from the State Board
of Health ON this subject is given for
the information of the public:
Smallpox is no longer q~uarantined
under State laws. Formerly, all con-
tagious diseases were combatted by
means of quarantine. Smallpox was
never successfully wiped out by quaY-
antine. 1t has been entirely abolished
in whole nations by means of VAGINA
ton.
Below are compared The Relative
Merits of these two methods of COM
batting smallpox. Quarantine aims u
prevent those having smallpox from
49, -sAI 49,
injecting others. This is only valIa-
BILE after the disease has been dag
nosed. Bear in mind that smallpox is
contagious from the very first symp-
toms of the disease. Vaccination alb
solutely protects all vaccinated per-
sons exposed to smallpox, either be
fore or after the disease has been re-
cognized. Vaccination gives severy
protection afforded by quarantine, and
gives it better. In short, quarantine
only closes the stable after the horse
is stolen, while vaccination locks the
door before he is stO1en,
The Relative Disadvantages.
Rigid quarantine land that is the
only quarantine that is quarantinel
protects only during the period of
quarantine. Vaccination protects for
from five to fifteen years o rlonger.
Mild cases of smalIpI5H are frequent
" mistaken for c~hickenpox or e
les. Such maid cases may transmit the
disease in its most virulent FORM
mild cases are rarely promptly
by quarantine. Vaccina-
ton absolutely protects against all
kinds Of smallpox at alT times. !
Quarantine is unjust because the -ex- /
pense of quarantine is borne by the {
taxpayers and as a rule they consti- /
tute the vaccinated population Of a &
community, who neither need nor de- /
mand protection from quarantine. /
Vaccination incurs no expense upon
the un~vaccinated. 1t affords them
much protection, however, by pre- /
venting the vaccinated from propa- !
eating the disease.
The annual loss to- the State from
smallpox is approximately $2OO, 1000. ]
A rigid quarantine is estimated to cost
the taxpayers an additional 100000 a
year. The latter amount alone would
be more than enough to vaccinate the
entire population every five years. |
Then there would be no more SMALL !
pox or quarantine. History bears; out !
this statement. Quarantine ever fos-
tprs smallpox, as it lends a false sense |
OF security and thereby encourages an |
unvaccinated population. In view OF
all this evidence, any city or county |
that so desires may quarantine small
If they deem it wise they may
even quarantine headache or rifeuma-
tisrn. On the other hand, they may |
have general vaccination just as
easily. Which will we have?