PROTECTING THE BABY FROM HIS MOTHER’S COLD
Vaccination. Before the discovery of vaccine, smallpox was the most dreaded disease in the world and more prevalent than measles is to-day. A hundred years ago it was considered a disease of the children; to-day, by the simple and safe process of vaccination, it has been almost entirely eliminated, except in those localities where through prejudice or ignorance the children are not vaccinated. Therefore every baby should be vaccinated before he is six months old; this should be repeated at about six years of age, and later if there is a smallpox epidemic.
The best place for vaccination is on the left arm. If the leg be selected, as it is occasionally (especially with girls), the child should stay in bed during the reaction following vaccination.
The aftercare of a vaccinated child is important. A dressing of clean, sterile gauze should be placed over the point of vaccination and held in place with strips of adhesive plaster. The dressing should be changed only by the physician or under his orders. If it sticks to the scab, it should not be pulled off; the cloth should be cut away around it and a small piece left adhering to the arm and a fresh dressing placed over this. Do not apply vaseline or any kind of ointment to the point of inoculation. Nothing must touch it but clean boiled water and sterile dressing handled by clean hands.
A vaccinated child should have a bath and a change of underwear daily, but it is important that the dressing over the vaccination should be kept clean and dry. The child should not be permitted to play in gardens, stables, or dusty streets until the arm has completely healed.
APPENDIX A
ORGANIZATION OF THE GIRLS’ HEALTH LEAGUE CLASSES
I. Preliminary Meeting
The mothers and teachers should be invited and urged to attend the meeting for the organization of a class. The success of this movement for the health of our girls and for the saving of our babies depends largely upon the interest and coöperation of the mothers and teachers.
The organizer should preside, and the school physician should be asked to explain the object of the league.