SMALL-POX 
NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO BE VACCINATED 
To the Health Officer: 
Dear Sir:—Small-pox tends to reappear after somewhat regular intervals of time ; thus the maximum deaths from small-pox 
in Michigan have been reported in 1873, 1877, and 1883. A wave of small-pox might have been expected in 1887; inasmuch as it 
did not occur, there is probably a large number of people in Michigan now susceptible to this loathsome disease, and the wave 
may not be much longer deferred. During the past year the disease has occurred in an unusual number of places throughout this 
country; but, through the efforts of health authorities, the disease has not spread much in the various localities nor caused a very 
great mortality. But it is well known that it is very much easier to suppress small-pox in summer than in winter, and the number 
of infected places in this country, and in foreign countries from which immigrants and travelers come should, under the circum- 
stances, be taken as a warning which should lead to unusual efforts to prevent this disease. 
THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE VACCINATION AND RE-VACCINATION. 
Permit me to again ask your attention to resolutions passed by the State Board of Health at its last meeting, October 23, 1888, 
and published on pages 4 and 3 of the “ Proceedings" which have been distributed, but because of recent developments maybe 
repeated as follows :— 
LOCAL BOARDS OF HEALTH SHOULD RECOMMEND VACCINATION. 
The following resolution offered by Dr. Lyster was unanimously adopted : 
Resolved, That in view of the recent outbreaks of small-pox in Bulfalo, N. Y., Toronto, Ontario, and other places, it is 
recommended by the State Board of Health, that the several boards of health of the cities, villages and townships in Michigan, be 
requested to recommend the vaccination of all unprotected persons within their jurisdictions. 
The law under which general vaccination may be favored by local boards of health, is as follows : 
Act No. 14ti, Laws of 1879. entitled, “ An Act to authorize boards of health of cities, villages, and townships to furnish vaccination to the inhabit- 
ants thereof.” 
Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the board of health of each city, village, and township may, at 
any time, direct its health officer or health physician to offer vaccination, with bovine vaccine virus, to every child not previously 
vaccinated, and to all other persons who have not been vaccinated within the preceding five years, without cost to the persons 
[person] vaccinated, hut at the expense of such city, village or township, as the case may be.—g 1685 Howell's Statutes. 
Bovine vaccine virus is propagated by E. L. Griffin. M.D., Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Virus is for sale by most druggists. 
The State Board of Health does not supply vaccine virus. 
«b 
Small-pox is present in Buffalo, N. Y.; in Ontario, from whence mauy lumbermen go into the pine woods of Michigan ; one 
case lias occurred at Port Huron, Michigan ; one in East Saginaw ; one in Lansing ; one in New Haven, Shiawassee county ; one 
in Detroit; and three cases in Howell. 
It is respectfully suggested that unusual watchfulness should be maintained, and suspicious cases carefully isolated, that all 
persons exposed directly or indirectly be promptly vaccinated, and all infected material destroyed or disinfected. 
1 trust you will promptly notify this office on the occurrence of any suspicious case, and, as the law requires, keep this office 
“constantly informed respecting every outbreak of a disease dangerous to the public health, and of the facts * * * respecting 
sources of danger of any such diseased person or infected article being brought into or taken out of” the township, city or village 
of which you are the health officer. 
Any aid which this office may be able to give you will be cheerfully rendered. 
By direction of the State Board of Health. Very respectfully, 
Henry B. Baker, v 
Secretary.