The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1913-12-12
STATE BOARD OF HEALTHOF KENTUCKY

Bowling Green, KY, Dec, 9, 1918.
WARNING AGAINST SMALLPOX
To the Health and Fiscal Officials of
Kentucky:
Smallpox has been stamped out over
and over again in every county in the
State in recent years, but official in
formation is coming in to the Board
almost daily that the disease has again
appeared in many widely separated Sec
tons, as it has in adjoining states, and
that, because of the lack of vaccina-
ton, and of its mildness, the disease
seems So inclined to break over official
control so early in the cold season as
to threaten widespread and costly
epidemic, unless the officials, physi-
clans and people are organized to
recognize and meet the danger.
Since January 1898, smallpox has
prevailed more or less extensively in
every county in Kentucky, with a to-
tai of over %, 900 cases, and 1886 deaths,
costing in cash from county and city
treasures, as shown by official reports,
the immense total sum of 1925. $50, and
an estimated loss from interference
with business of 81. 500, 600. Judicious-
ly expended, this would be more than
enough to keep every one of our peo-
pie vaccinated for a generation, and as
shown by the experience of Germany
and other perfectly protected coun-
tries, make anything but ali imported
case of this disease an impossibility.
In the face of these facts. and of the
conclusion of the scientific world after
full investigation, that vaccination
properly done on clean arm with re-
liable virus, is certain preventive and
is free from danger, it IS estimated
that over 40 per cert of the people,
and in the country districts of many
counties, over 80 per cent are unpro-
tected from this loathsome disease.
In such communities, an imported
case, especially a mild one who can go
around freely all the time, or after the
few points of eruption appear and the
fever subsidies, and visit his kin and
friends, is usually like a spark in dry
stubble, an epidemic is on, which often
spreads to distant communities and
counties by repetition of these con-
ditions.
Under existing conditions. when all
have reason to be on the lookout for
first cases or suspicious symptoms,
there is no longer any excuse for phys
lclans who fail to recognize and
promptly report the disease. Except
chlckenpox, which almost never oc-
ours in adults, it does not look like and
the symptoms do not point to anything
else. When unvaccinated grown peo-
pie have an eruption in any community
at this time, they should be rightly
isolated until some competent authori-
ty decides that it is not smallpox. 1t
should be constantly borne in hind.
too, that there are no such diseases as
Elephant Itch, AFRICAN Itch,
Army Itch, Cedar Itch, or Gu
ban Itch. In all of the hundreds of
instances where the disease was re-
reported under these and other mis-
leading names our reports found only
unmistakable, mild smallpox.
The virus from all modern vaccine
farms may be relied on as pure but
unless it is kept cool in transit and in
storing, it rapidly loses its protective
value and often becomes not impure
but inert. For this treason, and be.
cause it is more certain to take anC
causes less local and constitutional dis.
turbance, humanized virus is recon.
mended, especially in the country dis
trlcts where the family physician car
select it from the arms of healthy
children and girls. If the scabs thus
selected are sealed in tissue and put in
a dry, cool place they can be kept in.
definitely, and a return to this plar
will bring protection within reach Of
the people Of most country districts.
1t is unlawful to remain unvaccinateC
at any time. but in the face of exist.
ing conditions intelligent people should
not wait for the law to force them tc
an evident duty. There is little senti
ment against doing this here, and il
the people could be persuaded of ITS
great Importance and freedom from
danger and the work carried on sys
tematIcally for few weeks we would
be free from this disease, and if future
generations were properly educated
upon this subject we would never have
any more smallpox.