Malvern daily record., 1917-11-20
NO MODIFICATION OF
 COMPULSORY VACCINATION

l TO THE PUBLIC:
 A good deal of uneasiness has been oceasioned by the appearance of sev- eral cases of tetanus in the State, and especially by the report of tetanus sent out by the City Health Department of Memphis. The State Board of Health has made very thorough canvas of the situation and herewith submits the following report of the cases notified.
 Since May of this year, fifteen cases of tetanuS have occurred within the State, with nine deaths Twelve cases Rock, with six deaths. Of these 12 cases, four who had not been vaceinat- ed developed the disease, one from gun shot wound one following pune ture wound of the foot with rusty nail; another following introduction of nee- de in the foot; and the other from crushing injury to the foot. Of the other eight, all of them had sores or abrasions of the skin somewhere on the body. One of them had received an injury to the foot by rusty iron; an- other had stuck splinter through his toe; another had sores Oh legs and puncture wonud in the heel stimulating nailpuncture, andhad been riding bare back a great deal; another had had the scab from vaccination knocked off by a whip and the wound was dressed with a dirty cloth; another had sores on legs and feet, which were supposed to be the entrance of infection.
 Another point about most of the cases is that tetanus developed four or five weeks after vaccination, in som instances after the vaccination had practically healed. The incubation period of tetanus is from ten to four teen days. Thus it would seem that in practically all of the cases at least vaccination was not responsible for the tetanus.
 Of the five deaths in Memphis, two leases had not been vaccinated and no tetanus bacilli were found in the vi- rus. The three cases in Little Rock are probelmatical
 A recent communication from Sur geon General Blue and General Cor gas states that no evidence has been found to indicate that tetanus was pre- sent in any of the vaccine virus, and further urges that no backward steps be taken and insists that any modifi- cation of the vaccination order at this time would be disastrous.
 There are now in Arkansas a number lof severe epidemies of smallpox in diff ferent sections of the State, and adjoin ling states are complaining that small pox contacts are coming out of Arkan- sas and spreading the disease.
 In view of the above findings and the message from the Surgeon Gener- l al, and further that no cases of teta- nus have occurred during the past l three weeks, the Board feels that the compulsory vaccination order should hot be modified. Many of the coun- ties have already complied and many are complying as rapidly as possible. Therefore, the order will remain in full force and effect.
 1t is further becoming necessary to issue compulsory vaccination orders to require all persons of all ages to be vacclnated ln certain restricted dis tricts where smallpox has gotten from under control of the local health au- thorities and many contacts have re- suited.
 The following precautions are urged Joy the Federal, State and local health authorities, namely, that the field of Ivaccination be thoroughly sterilized; i; that sterile gauge dressing be applied thereafter as soon as the virus has dried; and that it be redressed with sterile dressings as often thereafter as l IS necessary; and that shields be dis continued. As soon as the blister ap- pears following vaccination, if it is i touched up lightly with tincture of iodine it will soon disappear ard pre- vent a severe sore.
 Respectfully submitted, ARK STATE BOARD OF HEALTH,
 By c. W. Garrison, Secretary.