182 MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 



once entered in a record book kept for that purpose, in which book is 

 kept a record of all correspondence and reports relative to smallpox 

 during the current year, together with the name of the township, city or 

 village from which the disease is reported, and the name and postofifice 

 address of the health officer, all of which is arranged alphabetically by 

 counties. A printed letter is then sent to the health officer of such town- 

 ship, city or village (if the name of the health officer has been reported to 

 this office; if not, then to the president of the board), mentioning the 

 reported existence of smallpox within his jurisdiction, transmitting 

 copies of the documents on the prevention and restriction of smallpox, 

 and asking the health officer to distribute such documents where they will 

 do the most good, and suggesting that if distributed to the neighbors of 

 the families in which smallpox is present, they will be most likely to be 

 read with interest and profit. With the letter is sent a blank form (L) for 

 notice of the first case occurring, and blank form (M) for special weekly 

 reports during the continuance of the disease. On the back of the letter 

 are printed the questions which should be answered in the final report, 

 the blank for the final report being sent after the outbreak is believed to 

 be ended. 



Some of tlie Reeornincndations and Sii(/(/cstions for the Prevention and 

 Restriction of Smallpox. — Health Offieer to Investigate. 



Whenever the health officer shall receive notice from any reliable source 

 or shall otherwise have good reason to believe that a case of smallpox is, 

 or recently has been present in his jurisdiction, he should at once investi- 

 gate in accordance with Act 137, Laws of 1883, which also requires the 

 health officer to keejj the secretary of the State Board of Health "con- 

 stantly informed.'' and to act promptly even if his board takes no action. 



Isolation of Sick and Infected Persons. 



The law requires the health officer to order the prompt and thorough 

 isolation of those sick and infected so long as there is danger of their 

 communicating the disease to others. Every suspected case should be 

 carefully isolated. Isolation means that communication of the sick and 

 infected persons with well persons, and the movement of any article from 

 the infected room or premises, shall be absolutely cut off, unless such 

 communication is carried on under the supervision of a competent per- 

 son. Except it be disinfected, no letter or paper should be sent through 

 the mails from an infected place. 



What to do ivith Persons Exposed to Smallpox. 



The law also requires the health officer to order the prompt vaccination 

 or isolation of all persons who have been exposed to smallpox. If the 

 exposed persons will be vaccinated and then take a bath, and disinfect 

 their hands, hair, and beard if any, and have their clothing disinfected, 

 they can then be allowed their liberty, providing they are kept under the 

 surveillance of the health officer, and will report at least once a day to the 

 health officer, for a ])eriod of at least sixteen days from the date of last 

 exposure; but upon the appearance of any of the symptoms of smallpox, 

 such as headache, backache, chills or fever, or if any eruption should 

 appear, especially upon the face or hands, then they should be isolated at 



