The sun., 1918-11-19
SMALLPOX: A DANGER.

According TO a British medical ex-
pert. smallpox will DO a source OF
danger when peace comes and de-
mobilization begins. In a report on
this subject to the Local Government
Board In London DIT. Bruce Low has
given n detailed account Of the be-
havior of this disease under war con-
ditions and its presence in almost
every quarter OF the globe. Although
less sensational than the reports In
the English press the off1cial state
ment provides further evidence Of the
amasing want OF cautionsry measures
which seems to mark the smallpox
regulations Of many countries. The
chief danger which IL likely TO arise
comes from the neglect OF vaccination
and revaccination by a large section
OF the public. In England the popu-
lation practically has the choice OF
being vaccinated or not, and perhaps
the most disquietins feature Of the
present situation 10 the increasing
accumulation Of unprotected people.
The risk entailed 10 considerable and
will become still more serious at the
end Of the war when large bodies of
troops, as well as other persons. will
arrive in their home countries from
areas where smallpox exists or where
recent epidemics have been occurring.
This is not an alarmist forethought,
but justiflable ana probable surmise.
Without going into the merits Of
vaccination, concerning which there
Is an honest difference Of opinion even
among some physicians, It must be
borne in mind that many OF the
younger medical practitioners have
had little or no opportunity Of becom-
Ing acquainted with the appearance
OF the disease. Under normal condi-
tons the occurrence Of few cases in
n we'll administered district with expo
rienced health officials is promptly
and successfully dealt with by i'm
mediate Isolation and quarantinea Of
the sick. The danger OF spreading
smallpox is therefore very slight, and
1t Is seldom that a virulent type OF
the disease comes under notice. But
1t is not so clear that the disease
may not assume a dangerous and cpl
demic form. Some races are also
more liable to this type than others;
the negro races and the Arabs are
especially vulnerable and at the pres
ent time they are in close contact In
various theatres OF war. Already the
inevitable has happened, and an out
break or smallpox among these
troops in an Eastern field Of opera
tons has occurred. as II 10 serve
as a note Of warning. In civilian
communities the danger Is OF a some
what different kind. In these cir
cumstances the danger threatens
those who have been vaccinated in
infancy but have not been revacci-
mated and have consequently lost
their immunity.
One OF tho favorite arguments
against vaccination 7" that smallpox
has shown a progressive tendency to
disc ppear in spite Of the fact that an
increasing number Of people are I'M
protected and yet they have not been
attacked by the disease when II has
made one Of its rare appearances. Or.
Bruce Low in his report shows that
historically this feeling Of security is
founded on an error. He describes
the disastrous epidemic which began
during the Franco-German war Of
1870 and extended to England and
Wa es and even to this country. He
points out the possibility OF such
sinister history repeating itself. The
existing conditions Of great Euro
pean war greatly increase the danger
for many reasons. It Ia necessary to
provide for the care OF troops. refu-
gees. deported populations and pris-
oners OF war, who have lived under
conditions OF prlvation, overcrowdine
and stress OF mind with a consequent
lowering OF vitality. Another circum,.
stance which aggravates the situation
is the absence and shortage Of med!-
cal men. public vaccinators and health
inspectors. The public, who have In
a large measure lost their dread Of
smallpox In consequence Of its COM
parative disappearance. would almost
certainly suffer severely. The warn
ing comes at an opportune moment
now that peace is spoken Of as prob.
ably forthcoming. Even those who do
not believe In vaccination cannot
afford 70 ignore tho danger and neglect
the only preventive measure against
the diEea ae known "a y,adIcaI ectnoco