HEALTH VOL. I. DEPARTMEN MARCH, 1909 BULLETIN This number of the Bulletin is devoted entirely to SMALLPOX Smallpox has smouldered in parts of Virginia for many years. It costs the counties and cities of the State thousands of dollars annually, and subjects hundreds and thousands of our citizens to hardship and inconvenience. It is a perpetual menace to the whole State. It may at any time become virulent and sweep the State, killing thousands of people and costing millions of money. SMALLPOX IS ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY The prevention of smallpox has been known for a hundred years. The disease could be made to disappear from the State within thirty days, never to return. The sure, safe and only preventive of smallpox is VACCINATION No. 9: Entered as second-class matter July 28, 1908, at the post-office at Richmond, Virginia, Fourth Congressional District. LEWIS E. HARVIE, M. D...... Fifth Congressional District. R. W. MARTIN, M. D...... Sixth Congressional District. S. P. LATANE, M. D... . . . Seventh Congressional District. W. M. SMITH, M. D................... Eighth Congressional District. J. H. DUNKLEY, M. D................ Ninth Congressional District. REID WHITE, M. D.... Tenth Congressional District. Jarratts. Danville. Lynchburg. Winchester. Alexandria. Saltville. Lexington. GEO. BEN JOHNSTON, M. D.; STUART MCGUIRE, M. D. City of Richmond. History of Smallpox. Smallpox is probably the oldest of all the historic epidemic discases which have afflicted the human race. Vague references to a disease resembling smallpox are found in writings of the ancient Chinese, dating from a thousand years before Christ, and it is possible that the disease was known to the Greeks in classic times. The first positive references to smallpox, however, are found in the sixth century of the Christian era, when Bishop Marius of Lausanne and St. Gregory of Tours write of epidemics of the disease which swept over Italy and France. From the sixth century, Europe has never been free from the ravages of smallpox. One epidemic of marked virulence would occur, would die out and be forgotten, only to be succeeded by a still more decimating attack. In Europe, during this period, the average mortality was estimated at 600,000 per annum, and in London alone, most children contracted the disease before their seventh year. Smallpox in America has had an interesting and varied history. It was introduced, it is said, by a negro who accompanied Cortez on his expedition into Mexico, and it attacked the Indians of Southern and Central America with disastrous results. The disease appeared among the New England Indians in 1633, and was probably brought to Virginia about the same time. Since that time, America has never been free from smallpox, but the epidem ics have varied much in severity and in duration. The discoveries of Edward Jenner in England, at the close of the 18th century marked the turning point in the history of smallpox. The method of vaccination introduced by Jenner resulted in a marked decline in the mortality from smallpox and in a gradual lessening of the number of cases. Vaccination was introduced in America soon after it was discovered by Jenner and was practiced. with increasing frequency throughout the first half of the nineteenth century. Inasmuch, however, as the great number of unvaccinated persons were still liable to infection, smallpox was much more general than at present. The War between the States, 1861-65, marked an epoch in the history of American smallpox. During these years, as thousands of soldiers were crowded into unsanitary camps and hospitals, general and compulsory vaccination became an absolute necessity. Practically every soldier and every citizen who came in contact with soldiers was vaccinated against smallpox. In consequence, there was a marked decline in the amount and a decided change in the character of the smallpox prevailing in the generation after the war. It bore little resemblance to the awful scourge of colonial times and its mildness has lulled many persons into a sense of false security. So mild, indeed, has been the general type of smallpox that it has been called "Cuban Itch" and has been regarded as of little danger. There is no reason to suppose that this condition of affairs wil! remain unchanged. On the contrary, there is every reason to believe that unless vaccination again becomes general, smallpox will recur in America with its old-time virulence. Cuban Itch, so called. is smallpox and may, in the course of a short while, be transformed from a mild and comparatively harmless disease into the most virulent smallpox. The experience of other nations has shown that whenever vaccination has been neglected and whenever the people have come to believe that smallpox is not a menace to them, the disease would then appear in its old and virulent form. Virginia has had little severe smallpox in the last ten years, but. unless the people realize the situation and resume general vacci nation, the worst of epidemies may be expected. What Causes Smallpox? This is a question which physicians have been asking for years. but which has never been satisfactorily answered. The effects of the disease and the many symptoms of its various forms are well known, but the real cause of the disease remains as yet in doubt. |