Morris tribune., 1921-02-18
Small Pox an Unnecessary Evil

Small Pox an Unnecessary Evil
=. Class room inspection was con-
Quoted in the Morris schools last
week by the county health nurse.
This was for the purpose Of discover
ing if any abnormal skin diseases
prevail among the pupils. For some
reason, however, it led many to form
the erroneous opinion that vaccina-
tions were to be made. This, says
but with the present small pox cpl
demic in the community she thinks
vaccination would be advisable.
The following article reprinted
from the Minnesota Public Health
Association Journal might prove of
interest to those interested in pre-
venting sickness.
I'm one month-December 1920,
1,340> cases of small pox were re-
ported to the Minnesota State Board
of Health through it's division of
preventable diseases. These cases
were from 81 of the sc counties. DR..
A. J. Chesley, Director of that Divi-
sion, states that there are probably
twice as many actual existing cases
as the number reported. The prin-
cipal reason why all the cases are not
reported is that nearly all are mild
and do not call doctor. Unless a
virulent strain of the disease is in
troduced it is not likely that the
epidemic will change from mild to
severe type according to DIR.
ChesIey. He does say, however, that
among the so-called mild cases, some
have very severe symptoms preced-
| ing the seruptions, others have ex-
ttensive efuptions and great discom-
fort during the course of the disease.
"The mildness of the, disease is
evident in the fact that out of the
great number of cases in 1920 there
were only twelve deaths from small
pox reported. Even the twelve, could
have been prevented. The disease
prevails for no other reason than that
vaccination has been neglected.
Deaths from small pox are deaths
from carelessness, quite the same as
are. Information concerning the
effect of vaccination has been collect
ed from all cases reported since jan
uary r. 1913. The number of cases
exceeds 10000. Ninety-three per
cent Of. these cases had never been
vaccinated. Only Ia per cent Of the
cases claim a successful vaccination
within seven years preceding the at
atck; ST. per cent had been success
fully vaccinated more than seven
years preceding the attack.
"The discomfort connected with
vaccination is slight compared with
that of a mild case of small pox.
Vaccination is either free or costs a
dollar or two, while the expense for
the care of case of small pox varies
from $25 to $500 or $400. The loss
to the individuals time is not in
cluded in this estimate.
"The law prohibits compulsory vac
cination but it does require the quar-
antine of unvaccinated persons liv-
ing in a house where small pox ex-
lists. The period of quarantine is
twenty-one days following the last
exposure to the disease. q .-- j.
"When> small pox is prevalent in
community or case occurs in a
school the unvaccinated teachers and
pupils may be excluded by order of
the health officer if the school board
approves and if the school board does
not exclude the unvaccfnated. the
school may be closed by order of the
health officer for three weeks follow
ing the exposure. This is of little
aid in stopping the spread Of small
pox unless it leads to vaccination OF
the nonimmune.
"The cost of vaccine and services
Of physician to vaccinate is proper
expense for loacl Board Of Health
to pay in control Of disease.
Vaccination and re-vaccination at
intervals of few years will absolute
ly eliminate small pox from a COM
munity, and will prevent its. spread
lif introduced from the outside"