The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-23
SMALLPOX NAY CONE
AFTER WAR CLOSES
Is Forcarmed. So II Is
Safest To Get yaccinated
Now.

The possibility n even the prob
ability of a worldwide epidemic of
smallpox as a result Of the war is
discussed by DIR. II. Bruce Low. In q
blue book issued by the British local
government board. The pamphlet In
cludes the following passages:
The last great epidemic which in
volved the whole Of Europe developed
at the time of the Franco-Prussian
war in 1870. and there Is a possibility
that history may repeat itself, and
that a very serious outbreak of small
pox spreading again over the whole
of Europe. may develop during or
Immediately after the present war.
1t is a moderate estimate that the
epidemic of forty-seven years ago.
carried off ner than half It million OF
human lives in Europe.
The circumstances of the present
war resemble in certain particulars
those of 1870. but the armies of the
present day are IN IA far vastcr scale
than those of forty-seven years ago.
and the opportunities for mischief. il
like conditions to those Of 1870 arise,
would be infinitely greater. One of
the present belligerents tRussia) had,
in 1914, and since, a considerable
prevalence of smallpox within its
borders. Many Russian soldiers have
been made prisoners and informed in
Germany. Smallpox has developed
among the captured Russians and
spread recently to the civil population
of Germany. In these events are the
possible markings of a European epi-
demic. In addition, the civil popula-
ton of Germany has been increased
by the deported populations of Rus
sia's western provinces, OF Belgium.
and of Northern France, and these
unfortunate people are now living in
Germany under unwholesome condi-
tons, associated with much bodily
and mental suffering. which are not
unlikely to maxi them more suscep-
tible to infection, especially as among
these people vaccination has not been
generally enforced.
Also besides the present preVa-
lence of smallpox in various parts of
Germany the disease is epidemic i'll
Austria, especially in the Galician
war zone. 1t is habitualiy prevalent
among native populations in Egypt
and Turkey II along the shores of
the Mediterranean Tunis. for ex-
ample-and is SO at the present time.
In Spain IL is now appearing in some
of h large towns: and in smaller
numbers of smallpox cases are &C.
curing in other European countries.
including Greece. ltaiy. Holland and
Sweden. AT the end of 1915 small
o was prevalent in Japan. China.
India. Indo-China and the Dutch East
Indies. 1t has been appearing also in
various South American republics and
in Mexico: also. but in a milder form.
in the United States of America.
Two considerations emerge from
the above observations. The first. al
ready Indicated, is that, az The war
continues in Europe and In the Near
East conditions have arisen which
tend to aggregate susceptible popula-
tons under insanitary arrangements.
with overcrowding and ~consequen
lowered vitality. This must end TO
promote the spread of smallpox and
Intensity its type and viruteDce. The
second is that even the present de-
gree of prevalence Is sufficiently
serious to make the frequent intro
duction of smallpox into the United
Kingdom from h Continent a likely
event. This will be still more likely
If continental epidemics of the dis
ease become more severe and wide
spread; while. should a general in
classification of continental smallpox
coincide with the end of the war N
the resumption of free communica-
tons, the opportunities of introduce
ton of infection intoyihis country. w5lsi
become numerous and serious.
The comparative absence OF small
pox from the British Islands OF late
has blinded many people TO the neces-
sity n Importance of obtaining arti-
fetal protection against the disease.
is a consensus OF medical
~ tr
cination is generally enforced the
deaths from smallpox have practically
disappeared, IN that the majority
OF those who now contract the in
lection are either u~nvaccinated or in
efficiently y~accinated persons, or who.
having attained adult age and hav-
ing neglected to renew by ~revaccina-
ton the wornout protection impaired
in infancy, There can be no reason
able II that, IL efficient vaccina-
ton in infancy and revaccination at
school or early adolescence were
efficiently carried out and the prac-
tice made universal. deaths from
smallpox would be among the rarest
entries in the register.
Should smallpox of a virulent kind
reach this country during the present
war the administrative machinery for
dealing with 1t may, in places, be
found defective, for medical officers
of health, public vaccinators. sanitary
inspectors. vaccination officers, and
other officials have in many instances
been called up for military service,
and their places temporarily filed by
less experienced men. For these and
other reasons it Is extremely unwise
to postpone vaccination till a small
pox epidemic has developed. Security
should be obtained by individual ac-
ton without delay"