Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-04-29
Smallpox.

Mr.. Editor Recently. at the Harvard
Club Of Washington. D. c., heard doctor
speak on the subject Of smallpox. 1t in
terested me so much that thought the
readers OF this paper would like to know a
few Of his thoughts.
am not doctor of medicine and con-
sequently my impressions are only those
any average person would have received
had he been there in my place.
Smallpox is thing about which few Of US
ever think. but nevertheless il is an ever
present menace. Out of about two hun
drsd cases in Washington. D. c.. two years
ago. fifty people died One hundred thou.
sand people die yearly from this disease,
disease for which there is no reliable
cure. but fortunately there is a preventive,
namely. universal and compulsory vacci-
nation.
There is touch Of romance in every
advancement of learning. and so is there
In the case Of smallpox. Women are
blamed for mans first sin. and they also
can be associated with mans good work.
This disease, which devastated Europe In
the eighteenth century, is cruel and muchly
dreaded throughout the world even to this
time. 1t was first scientifically checked in
England more than one hundred and fifty
years ago. The wife of the British Am
bassador to Constantinople. while residing
in that city. noted that some Of the people
were being inoculated with the germs
taken from person already affected with
the disease. She made her observations
known in London. and 1t was tried but did
not meet with much success. About that
time young doctor in London heard a
country maiden. who lived in the dairy
region Of England where girls MIXED the
cows and frequently contracted the disease
OF cowpox, say that In her country any
one who had had cowpox did not take
smallpox. The young doctor realized that
he had found clue and Immediately set
out to develop a preventive From his
observation and experimentation. coupled
with that Of many later doctors. has come
into use our modern vaccination. which
has done so much to rid the world of the
smallpox menace.
Out of the two million people vaccinated
last year, only eight died. and that was
because Of carelessness on the part Of the
doctor or the patient. Probably because
of infection from bandaees put over the
arm-a method which should never be
permitted. One should DO vaccinated al
ways on the arm and never on the leo. Ii
should be done first at the age of about
one year, again when the child enters
school. and once every five or ten years
thereafter. Always keep the arm dry,
cool and exposed to the air, thus letting
nature form its own natural covering.
Never use any bandaee or dressing, and
positively never celulOid shield.
In the States where compulsory vacci-
nation is in practice. smallpox is almost
entirely wiped out. The territory in the
United States most affected by the dreaded
disease is the Middle Western and West
ern States, where there are no compulsory
vaccination laws.
These facts pass on to you for what
ever you may think they are worth. They
came to me from Americas leading au-
thority on the subject. who is connected
with the United States Health Bureau.
May they do someone good.
JOHN SUMNER WOOD.
Washington. D. c.. April 20. 1927.