Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-10-17
SMALLPOX AND VACCINATION


as we see from the daily pres
and reports from the Bureau o
Epidemiology that there il
little smallpox in North Carolina
and there are two cases in Hall
fax County, when there shoult
not be case in North Carolina.
Few of the infectious diseases
show such complete indepen.
dence such as race, age, occupa.
tion and sanitary surroundings
as smallpox. It thrives only on
unvaccinated people. The NOR
tality bears from it 30f5. The
cause of smallpox bears no rela-
tion on improved sanitation
which has lessened the preve-
lence of tuberculosis, bowel
trouble, hookworm and malaria.
General sanitation could not eff
feet smallpox or measles. Small
pox spares neither high nor low
rich nor poor, black or white, it
spares only the vaccinated.
When an epidemic Of smallpox
breaks out those who are vacci-
mated are as safe as the children
of Israel were from death, when
the lentils and posts of their
doors were sprinkled with the
Blood of the Lamb.
Before the days of vaccination
smallpox counted among its VIC
Tins princes. kings, and queens.
We are still ignorant as to the
precise way in which smallpox
is conveyed. A view generally
held is that is air borne and en-
ters the respiratory tract. We
do know this, that it is a pre-
ventable disease, and the most
easily preventable of all the pre-
ventable of all the infectious
diseases. The man that through
prejudice or ignorance would
allow his children to grow up un-
protected against this loathsome
disease is worse than infidel.
The Good Book says that 'aman
who does not provide for his own
household is worse than an inf
del."
Vaccination virus is the specific
principal in a matter obtained
from the skin eruption Of ami
mails, being known as cowpox.
There are therefore two ways of
obtaining the virus. One from
the scab of vaccinated human be-
ings, and the other from young
calves and called bovine virus.
The old way of using virus from
human beings is about done away
with and we have thereby done
away with infection, and trans
mitting disease to a great extent.
The bovine virus is put in gly-
cerine and the harmful bacteria
is killed in this manner.
Vaccination is a most simple
operation but should be done in
a most careful manner. Every
thing used in the operation
should be thoroughly sterlized.
The reason and the only reason
bad sores after vaccination is
that the place of vaccination has
been infected either by scratching
the vaccinated arm with dirty
fingernails or by tieing the arm
up with dirty rags or bandages.
Then it should be treated just as
any other infected place.
Immunity from smallpox 'ap-
pears on the eighth, or tenth day
after successful vaccination.
The question is often asked how
long does vaccination protect
against smallpox The pro-
lection is somewhat variable.
From what information obtain
able it should be about II years.
Who should be vaccinated? Ev-
cry unvaccinated person from
babies four weeks old to people
1O4 years old. People should be
revaccinated when there is an
epidemic of smallpox. Children
cannot attend school when small
pox is in the family, nor can
teachers attend school who board
in a family where there is small
pox.
There are two cases of small
pox in Weldon Township at the
present, and there are number