406 PRACTICAL HYGIENE 



Vaccination. The method of preventing smallpox 

 known as vaccination, which has been practiced since its 

 discovery in 1796 by Jenner, has always proved effective. 

 In some instances the sore arm causes considerable incon- 

 venience, but this generally results from neglect to cleanse 

 the arm thoroughly before applying the virus, or from con- 

 tact of the sore with the clothing later. The virus should 

 be applied by a physician and the wound should be pro- 

 tected after the operation. If discomfort is felt when it 

 " takes," medical advice should be sought. 



Isolation, or quarantining, is a most important method 

 of combating contagious diseases. By removing the sick 

 from the well many outbreaks of disease are quickly 

 checked. Isolation of individual patients, and sometimes 

 of infected neighborhoods, is absolutely necessary ; and 

 while this works a hardship to the few, it is frequently 

 the only safeguard of the many. The community, on the 

 other hand, should make ample provision for the care of 

 the afflicted in the way of hospitals, or sanitaria, and if it is 

 deemed necessary to remove people from their homes, 

 they should not be subjected to unnecessary hardship. 



Where one is sick from some contagious disease in the 

 home and there is liability of communicating it to the other 

 members of the family, room isolation should be practiced. 

 Infection cannot spread through solid walls, and where the 

 doors, and the cracks around the doors, are kept com- 

 pletely closed and the usual precautions are observed by 

 those attending the patient, the other inmates of the house 

 can be protected from the disease. 



The Physician and His Work. In combating disease 

 the services of the physician are a prime necessity. The 

 special knowledge which he has at his command enables 

 the conflict to be carried on according to scientific require- 



