Evening journal., 1919-12-20
VACCINATE ALL,
IS STATE ORDER
Board of Health Takes Dras-
tic Step TO Check Small
pox Spread
PROSECUTE SOME
IN SUSSEX COUNTY
special to iho evening journal.

DOVER, Del, Dec. 9O-At meeting %
The State Board Of Health held here
yesterday the smallpox situation in
Sussex county was discussed at some
length and the necessity OF enforcing
the state laws relative TO vaccination
was deemed imperative.
After a fun discussion Of the sub
lect, resolutions were adopted com
! pelling each and every resident Of
Georgetown, Dagsboro, Indian River,
Baltimore and Lewes and) RehObolh
Hundreds to be yacclnatedf by Deem
Der 27 After that date, any resident
OF the i've hundreds when asked by
any police onlcer. health officer local
or otherwise, any peace officer or any
other Interested person as 10 Whether
they have been vaccinaied and refus-
ing 10 answer Will be arrested and II
found not TO have been yacclnated viii
be- fined or imprisoned.
Dr l.. :. COnwell. secretary and cX-
eculye officer ~ The State Board in
commencing on The action OF the State
Board said that Delaware was not the
only state IN the union infected with
smallpox at the present time. but that
in nearly one-half Of the states in tho
Union there were outbreaks OF the dis
ease.
In the sussex County cases, Dr.. Con-
well said The vaccination would have to
be done by the family physician or
some physician chosen by The family,
that the state Board Of Health could
not and would not undertake the work
Of vaccination, but would enforce the
law 10 the letter
II is the feeling Of the State Board
that an person who refuses to comply
with the vaccination order in as much
Of a Stacker as the man who refused
to willingly obey the commands Of his
country in the overseas war.
The cases already prosecuted In Sus-
sex County which have been among
the most prominent citizens OF the in
fected districts for failure to comply
with the vaccination order, have been
done as a warning 10 all that they
cannot escape the mandates Of the law.
The resolution adopted by the State
Board follows:
Whereas a house-to-house inspection
In Indian River Hundred has revealed
about 200 unreported cases Of small
pcX; and
Whereas, many citizens Of the sur
rounding hundreds have been exposed
20 the Infection OF smallpox as a re-
suit Of contact with these unrAported
and unquarantlned cases; and
Whereas, as a result OF such expo
sure. cases OF smallpox have already
been reported In Baltimore Hundred,
Dugsboro Hundred, Georgetown Hun
drrd, Broadkiln Hundred and Lewes and
RehobOlh Hundred as well as In IN
dian River Hundred; and
Whereas. other cases may develop at
any time and thus constitute new cen
ters Of Infection; and
Whereas, the vaccination Of every
person in On infected district IS the
only way OF stamping out an epidemic
OF smallpox; be it therefore,
Resolved that the present situation
demands the immediate vaccination OF
every person In the above-named IN
fected Hundreds. and all such persons
ars hereby required to be vaccinated
before December %, On they have not
been vaccinated within five years) OF
be liable 10 prosecution for violation
Of this regulation physicians will not
be sent from house to house 10 yaccl-
nate), and be Il further
Resolved. that the posting OF this res
olutlon in the customary place in which
Official notices are posted In the varl-
Gus Hundreds shall be considered Of
llcial notice 10 each and every inhabl-
tant OF the infected hundreds. and be 70
further
Resolved. that the Secretary Of the
Board Is hereby authorized to employ
such special officers as may be neces-
sary 10 determine whether or not this
order has been complied with. and be
it further
Resolved. that every member and
every regular and special officer Of this
Board shall on and after December 81
have fun power 90 require proof OF vac
cination Of all persons IN the said in
fected Hundreds. whether found IN their
homes. or on the streets or IN any 9th
er public or private place, and be it|
further
Resolved. that any person in the ssidI
infected Hundreds who shall on and az
ter December 27, refuse to present to|
any member or duly appointed officer
OF this Board satisfactory proof that
he has been vaocinated as required by
this resolution shall be deemed guilty
Of a violation Of this resolution and
shall be liable TO prosecution, and be
It further
Resolved. that the Secretary Of this
Board Is hereby instructed TO institute
legal proceedings in all cases Of re-
fussl to comply with this order.
Already the board has had several
leading residents Of Sussex county ar
rested, hailed before a MAGISTRATE in
Georgetown and fined S25. The culprits
then were ordered 60 be vaccinaied
within twenty-four hours or face a line
Of Si00 and Jail 10 almost Is needless
10 say the men have undergone the
serum treatment.
Hundreds Of posters notifying resi-
dents Of these hundreds TO be vaccinated
by December q or face fine and Jail
have been put up in leading stores and
on street corners and in public places
throughout the infected area. Thou
sands Of hand bills or dodgers also have
been distributed.
auini.. That Uoes Not A0ect us.d