FORCE ON SMALLPOX. 179 



Lumber Camps Warned 



Because of the danjijer of the introduction of smallpox into Michigan 

 by the thousands of French-Oauadians who early in the fall flock to the 

 lumbering camps, a circular letter was sent to the local health authorities 

 in such jurisdictions in thirty- three counties in which lumbering interests 

 were carried on, and also to 59 prominent lumbermen in different parts of 

 the State, urging the importance of vaccination, and asking for the names 

 and addresses of all owners, contractors and foremen of lumbering camps, 

 and requesting cooperation for the public good. In response to these 

 letters 419 names were secured, to whom a letter was sent, urging the 

 extreme importance of vaccinating all of their employees, both as a protec- 

 tion to themselves and the public. As a result of the activities of the board 

 in this direction there is abundant evidence that much was accomplished 

 in influencing a more general vaccination of the people, especially in the 

 lumbering districts. 



•& 



Inspection of Immigrants Again Estahlislied. 



In August 1885 the danger of the introduction of smallpox into Michi- 

 gan from Montreal seemed so great that the U. S. Marine Hospital Service, 

 after being earnestly requested by the State Board of Health and also by 

 the Governor, established a train inspection service at Port Huron and 

 Detroit, and agreed to maintain the same until the law, Act 230, Laws of 

 1885, placing a contingent appropriation to prevent the introduction of 

 dangerous communicable diseases into the State, at the disposal of the 

 Governor, should go into effect on September 18, 1885. The inspection 

 was continued and supervised bv the State Board of Health from Sep- 

 tember 18, 1885, until October 1885, when the U. S. Marine Hospital 

 Service again took charge of the work and continued the same until 

 December 31, 1885, when it was discontinued. As to the efflciency of the 

 work. President Avery in his annual address to the board in January 1887, 

 said : "There can be no question but that the practical exemption of the 

 people of this State from smallpox during the prevalence of an epidemic 

 in a neighboring province, that paralyzed business and claimed more than 

 four thousand victims, in 1885, was due to the efficient immigration in- 

 spection service inaugurated by the Michigan State Board of Health and 

 afterwards continued by the national health authorities."^ 



Vaccination and Revaccination again Urged. 



In 1888 smallpox having made its appearance at several places in 

 Michigan, and having been reported as being present in some of the sur- 

 rounding states and provinces, a printed letter headed "Smallpox. Now is 

 a good time to be vaccinated," was sent to all health officers urging prompt 

 action for the prevention of smallpox by vaccination and revaccination, 

 and to promptly notify the State Board of the occurrence of any sus- 

 picious cases. 



In 1889 the document relative to the prevention and restriction of small- 

 pox was revised and printed and a large number distributed during the 

 year. 



Again in 1891, smallpox having been reported to be present in all of 

 the bordering states, except Indiana, a leaflet entitled "The Prevention of 



