Lower coast gazette., 1914-02-14
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY IA, 1914.
Smallpox and Measles.

Smallpox and Measles.
SOME few cases of smallpox have been found
in this parish and have been isolated under the
orders of the parish health officer with every
prospect of preventing any spread of this dread
disease.
Parents sometimes think that the law requir-
ing all school children to be vaccinated is an OPP
pressive one. Common experience, and that ex-
p~erience now reaches over a hundred years, has
shown the wonderful value of our standard
vaccination process. Vaccinia, or as it was for
merly called cow-pox, a hundred years ago was
quite a common disease among dairy cattle and
it was found that even when there was a small
box epidemic that the dairymaids never con-
tracted the smallpox. This led Jenncr, the
famous physician, to conceive the idea that
these milkn,aids in their experience had con-
tracted the mild disease known as cowpox from
the little pimp!es on the udders Of the COWS and
probably had paid little or no attention to the
matter until Jenner conceived the idea that
their exemption was due not to any accident,
but to the fact Of their inocculation with the
virus of this milder disease.
It is stated that when Jenner made sure OF
his hypothesis based upon his experiments in
the country in England, that he then went to
London and announced his discovery. As small
pox at that time was quite a ommon disease,
attacking people of high as we'll as low degree,
there was no telling where the disease might
break out and great interest was manifested in
Jenner's discovery. A son of Lord Granville
was vaccinated by Jenner and this son died.
This gave vaccination quite a backset, but It
was a matter of such great moment and seemed
to be so indisputably borne out as to it's merits
that the practice of vaccination quickly spread
over civilized Europe and during these hundred
years the loss of life by smallpox, and in fact
the attacks of this disease have become not
negligible, but only a small fraction Of what
they once were.
The presence now Of a few cases in the Par
ish of Pladuemines is a warning that should be
considered by everyone interested in the general
welfare of our parish and especially Of our
schools, where diseases Of any kind become dis
seminating centers if they become infected.
Where any illness arises in a family, whether
among the children or adults, and and any sus-
picious symptoms develop, a fever Of unknown
determination at the time, it would be we'll for
parents in such q family to keep all their chill
dren home from school until it becomes evident
that no danger of their carrying contagion to
the school exists. There are almost always ev-
licences Of illness before the development of
either smallpox or measles, and itwould be we'll
to note these points and to keep away from
school any children in a family where there is
any suspicious illness until it has been ~satisfac-
toyily diagnosed by a doctor.
We understand that there is some measles
also prevailing in this parish at the present
time. We are told that in Cincinnati during
the last year there was quite an epidemic Of
measles and that in the public schools if a child
was found to have watery eyes or was sneezing,
or giving evidence Of some attack similar to a
cold, the child was at once sent home until it
was determined whether or not it was i'll, rs
these are also the preliminary symptoms of
measles.
The intelligent methods adopted during re-
cent years in the handling of these contagious
diseases is having a very Statutory effect. Ell
DERBY people will remember very we'll when in a
city one could see scores, if not hundreds of
very respectable people who were peck marked
very decidedly. Now a peck marked person,
man or woman, is an extreme rarity.
With the winter season passing away we
shall hope that there will be no spread Of small
pox and that the disease will be quickly exterm-
mated, within the limits of this parish. We
presume that the large amount of levee work
now going on has led a great many strange
colored people into the parish and that among
them this disease has started.
The Availability nf Nutrients Erora