The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1925-05-14
WARNS OF SMALLPOX IN
OUR NEIGHBORING STATES
State Health Officer Urges Re-
Vaccination as PrecautiOn
Against Disease

Because Of the prevalence of small
poX in nearby States, Dr. John S. Full
ton, Director of the State Department
of Health, urges all persons in Mary
land who have not been successfully
vaccinated within the past year, to
be vaccinated without further delay.
Smallpox vaccine is furnished free of
charge by the State Department of
Health to physicians throughout the
counties upon application either to the
Department or through the local
health officer.
"If it is not convenient for you to
go to your physician to be vaccinated,
go to the local health officer" Dr. Full
ton advised a day or two ago in COM
menting upon the seriousness of the
present situation.
maryland has been more fortunate
than many States" DR.. Fulton said,
''in escaping the outbreaks that have
swept over large sections Of the coun-
try in the past few years, but that
does not mean that we are free from
danger now. Present methods of
travel-the ease with which we move
about from place to place by trolley,
automobile, boat and train service,
brings US in daily, even in hourly con-
tact with people from the places
where the disease is now epidemic
Vaccination against smallpox takes
less than five minutes and as the
vaccine virus is furnished free of
charge by the State to physicians, the
fee for such service by private physi-
clans is not large.
Smallpox has been more prevalent
in the United States and Canada dur
ing the last three years than in any
other part of the world, except China
and India. Not only has the disease
increased in the United States, but it
has occurred in a much more virulent
form, and has caused a greater num-
Der of deaths. In forty states and
the District of Columbia there were
1851 cases and ST. deaths in 1924;
27,756 cases and IA deaths in 1928;
and 30,2S1 cases and 491 deaths in
1922.
"These figures are appalling, but
they come from reliable sources and
are a fact whichwe have to facein or
der that we may realize the vastness
of the outbreak. Fortunately for the
people of Maryland, the disease so far
has been kept under control here thru
the unrelaXing vigilance of the health
departments of the State and of Bal
timore City. Maryland has contribut-
ed only a small number of cases to
the total in the country. The total
number of cases in Maryland in 1922
was II, with deaths, all of which oc-
Cured in the counties. The total in
1923 was %, of which 10 cases were
reported from the counties. The total
in 1924 was 81, of which 80 occurred
in the city and IS in the counties.
There were no deaths from the dis
ease in either the City or in the coun-
ties in 1928 or 1924.
"The total number of cases in Ma
ryland has been relatively small, in
comparison with the total in other
states, but you can see that we had
nearly four times as many in 1924 as
in 1923.
Smallpox is one of the most loath-
some diseases of which we have any
knowledge, and even when not fatal,
one of the most disfguring. We have
an absolutely sure weapon of defense
against it in vaccination. We can't
expect to escape the fate of other
sections of the country and of some
of our very near neighbors if we neg
lect this one sure method of protec-
ton that is within the reach of every
man, woman and child in this State
VACCINATION"