1816 — Smallpox, New York City, NY — 179

–179  Duffy. A History of Public Health in New York City 1625-1866. 1968, p. 248.

–179  Jones. “Introduction of Vaccination into New York, United States of America.” P. 193.[1]

Narrative Information

Duffy: “On December 19, after the weekly bill of mortality showed 17 deaths from smallpox, the City Council appointed a committee to look into the matter. Subsequently, on January 29 the Council granted the Dispensary $1,000 to cover the cost of a general vaccination of th poor, and in conjunction with the Board of Health, began an educational campaign to arouse the public. The Council especially asked clergymen, charitable associations, and ‘intelligent’ persons to spread the good word about vaccination among the poor. Despite their efforts, the best available figures show that smallpox killed 94 persons in 1815 and 179 in 1816. The number of smallpox deaths fell off sharply thereafter, and the intensive campaign of 1816 possibly helps to account for the virtual elimination of smallpox during the next eight years. The very success of these efforts proved self-defeating, for the temporary elimination of smallpox caused apathy to set in, and a smallpox outbreak in 1824 killed almost 400 persons.” (Duffy, John. A History of Public Health in New York City 1625-1866. 1968, p. 248.)

Sources

Duffy, John. A History of Public Health in New York City 1625-1866. Hartford, CT: Connecticut Printers, Inc. and Russell Sage Foundation, 1968. Google preview accessed 6-20-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=LAcXAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Jones, Joseph, M.D., President of the Board of Health of the State of Louisiana. “Introduction of Vaccination into New York, United States of America.” Pages 191-193 in: Contagious and Infectious Diseases, Measures for Their Prevention and Arrest. Small Pox (Variola); Modified Small Pos (Varioloid); Chicken Pox (Varicella); Cow Pox (Variola Vaccinal): Vaccination, Spurious Vaccination…(Circular No. 2, Prepared for the Guidance of the Quarantine Officers and Sanitary Inspectors of the Board of Health of the State of Louisiana, by Dr. Joseph Jones). Baton Rouge: Leon Jastremski, State Printer, 1884. Accessed 2-12-2015 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=3VTboPycbBgC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] From a table entitled: “Total Deaths from all Causes, and from Small-Pox, Measles, Scarlet Fever and Phthisis-Pulmonalis [TB] in the City of New York during a Period of Fifty Years, 1804-1853.”