Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-05-21
VACCINATION IS
URGED FOR ALL
SCHOOL PUPILS
Three Most Fatal Diseases,
\ Small Pox, Diphtheria and
Z Typhoid Fever Can Be
(, Prevented BY Vaccination
BY DIR. o. &. WEST,
County Health Officer.

People in general should appre-
ciate the great Importance of keep
Ing non-immunes out of sick rooms
and educating their children to
avoid associating with children who
are being kept from school on ac-
count of some slight illness. These
seemingly slight indispositions
among school children are very
often the forerunners of infectious
diseases and are sometimes the
most contagious stage of an cpl
demic.
The basis of scientific study of
Infectious diseases really only COM
nenced in the early seventies, when
the germ theory became firmly es-
tablished. Before that time the
source and mode of infection was
almost mythical, we attributed al
most everything to the decomposi-
tion of animal and vegetable mat
ter; bad air and filth we're pre-
sumed to be the cause of most in
tectious diseases.
Malaria was supposed TO be
caused by vapors from swamps ana
wet lowlands; diphtheria con-
iracted from sewer gas; typhoid
and dysentery were due to eating
spoiled or decayed foods.
with the advent of laboratories
and tireless research workers we
began to Systematically identity
certain germs as the causes OF GER
tain disease and just how these
particular germs gain entrance into
our bodies. The study of epidemic
disease is an art of practical appll-
cation and like all arts, 1t involves
adjustments as variable as the
Changing conditions which must DE
met.
\ Therefore, we are constantly /,
modifying quarantine and disinfec-
tion methods to better suit conclu-
sions reached as the results OF late
Some of these modl-
fications are almost revolutionary
To our older teachings and people
OF the older generations find 1t hard
10 agree and conform to these |
changes; still these same people
don't hesitate TO acknowledge the |
existence of the x-ray, wireless
tho phonograph, ana
many other theories much more
difficult to explain.
In the carly part OF l9UV, tHe
earrier theory in the spread OF dis
Ease was discovered. This diseov-
sry easily explained many mystic
.ious appearances of infectious
disease in localities where there
rad been no history of actual con-
act with the sick. ID
Z II is now an acknowledged fact
hat an individual enjoying perfect
lealth can harbor in his body
serms of a malignant disease with
nut causing him the least inconven- ,
ence and this same individual can =
" intimate contact convey the I
germs to one who is not immune or
sho has by some reason a lowered
assistance.
( These carriers cannot always be
elected for there are some diseases
! which the causative germ has not
ieen isolated as scarlet fever, for
Instance. We have definite
that the number of car
lers is increasing and it will be one
the great problems of the future
b solve some way in which all car
iers can be detected and placed [
nder some form of treatment so f,
to clear them of infection. The 6
rudy of epidemies is demonstrat- t
lg more every year that the most
stage of disease is at the q
eginning, when the symptoms are I
J the acute stage and the activity q
{ the germ is not retarded by the {