Story from last weeks Marcus paper…
Dr. Joynt will give treatments in the Community Hall, Wednesday, May 24 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Smallpox and diphtheria, although preventable, are even today two of the communicable diseases commonly commonly attacking non-immune persons of all ages. Records show that in Iowa during the ten-year period 1932-1941, persons known to have had small pox in Iowa numbered 7,077 and 3,787 had diphtheria.
Surveys show that except in a very few communities far too few children in Iowa are protected against these diseases to prevent the possibility of serious epidemics. The records also show that 31% of all smallpox and 42% of all diphtheria in Iowa occur in children under six years of age. Furthermore the ratio of deaths to cases is much higher in this age group.
All children should be immunized against small pox and diphtheria before their first birthday and certainly before starting to school.
Immunization protects the individual for many years. Public health authorities recommend vaccinations of children against smallpox upon entrance to school and at least five to seven years thereafter. These preventive treatments are safe and almost painless. They stimulate the child’s body to produce nature’s protective substances against these diseases.
Two years ago Marcus put on the biggest program in the county doing approximately 180 treatments in two and one half hours, reports D. Frerike R.N. County Nurse.
August 11, 1949 “Guard Against Disease”. “The best health insurance you can give your baby is to see that he/she gets vaccinations and immunizations against smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough, and other viruses during his first year of his life,” states an extension and health nurse from Kansas state. There is help to prevent whooping couch as early as two and a half years old. At two months, smallpox vaccinations can be given as well as for diphtheria. (Up to this time, the age of 2 months was never given for smallpox and diphtheria vaccinations. This young age could make parents think twice.)
April 26, 1951 “From the Desk of the Superintendent”. Arrangements are now being worked out that all children in the County of school age who desire it can be immunized for smallpox and diphtheria. It is hoped that the project can be carried out in each town in the County with the cooperation of the local physicians and the cost per child can be kept somewhat between one and two dollars. In the near future, each pupil in the public school will bring home a letter explaining this program. At that time those parents who would like to have their child take part in this program can indicate their desires and if enough interest is shown, a definite effort will be made to provide the service.
NOW For The First Time_an insurance policy has come to light! Clarence F. Beck of Marcus has announced in an ad about the New!A Only policy of its kind today! Cancer and Polio Insurance that includes Smallpox and Diphtheria, Tetanus, Encephalitis, Scarlet Fever, etc. It costs $10.00 with no Waiting Period. Just Think! Less than 3 cents a day! No maximum age; even persons over 50 pay only $3 additional.
It didn’t take long before another insurance policy with Whealon (from Farmers State Bank) was offered to the public. And, still not much longer, another policy came in an ad with Strampe/Whealon on it. Both these policies offered the same protection and certainly taking the right time to insure those who had problems with smallpox or diphtheria.
There were ads back in 1918 and 1920 advertising help to get rid of wrinkles and the pit marks left from smallpox. Nothing was said in these insurance policies of helping to pay the person who said these smallpox victims could be helped_if there really was a person who could clear up these smallpox marks!
I did some calling to ask people if they were given the smallpox vaccination. I know I had it as I still have my scar on my left leg. When calling some of my classmates, I found one had had the vaccination before going to a rural school, but the mark was gone. Another one said she still had her mark on her leg.
I asked another woman about the vaccination. She had one on her shoulder. I called an older woman in Remsen. She had had her vaccination in the 30’s and on her shoulder. Then I called someone that was the same age as my middle sister. No, she did not have a mark. I don’t think my two sisters had the smallpox vaccination, as I don’t recall a mark on them. I wonder if I had the vaccination sometime in the 1940’s and my parents thought my sisters were too young to get vaccinated. I’ll never know about this.
I did find out that in the southeast corner of the cemetery in Cherokee, this area is for burials of those with smallpox. No ground was to be dug in this area for 100 years as it was believed that the virus was still live. Interesting!
With all the controversy about people now having to get a COVID vaccination, the smallpox vaccination didn’t seem to be questioned.