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57
PREVENTION OP SMALL-POX.
Small-pox is a very dangerous infectious fever. It attacks
indiscriminately both sexes and all ages. The deaths in different
epidemics have varied from 2 or 3 to 40 per 100 attacked. But the
greatest mortality has been amongst unvaccinated persons. It has
been recorded that out of 10,000 cases of small-pox received into the
Homerton Fever Hospital, more than 43 out of every 100
unvaccinated persons died of the disease, but less than two out of
every 100 thoroughly vaccinated persons.
After the introduction of vaccination, small-pox greatly decreased
in prevalence and mortality; but as the practice of vaccination has
of late years declined in Hackney (probably from want of knowledge
and carelessness), and as there are evidences of a revival of small-pox,
it is thought desirable by means of this leaflet to call the attention of
the Public to the measures which ought to be adopted, in order to
prevent the spread of this loathsome disease.
Small-pox is extremely infectious, the contagion residing in the
matter and crusts of the eruption. It spreads by contact with
persons suffering from the disease, from infected clothing, etc., and
even by persons who, although free from it themselves, have been in
contact with some one suffering from the disease. The infection is
also believed to be conveyed through the air from centres where cases
of small-pox are treated, such as small-pox hospitals.
Sym???toms.—The symptoms of this disease begin to appear about
twelve days after the contagion has entered the body. The patient
becomes feverish, with severe headache, and generally has a pain
across the loins, with vomiting. These symptoms continue for some
days. On the third day of the illness, the peculiar rash of small-pox
makes its appearance, usually first and more profusely on he face,
and a few hours later on the trunk and the arms. The rash consists
at first of a number of reddish pimples, which gradually enlarge and
change into small bladders or vesicles, about the size of a split pea.
At first the contents are watery, but, later on, gradually change to
matter. A peculiar feature of the vesicles is that they mostly have