Seasoned Expressions

On July 3, 1835, in Paterson, New Jersey, children went on strike seeking a more equitable eleven-hour workday instead of the thirteen and one-half hours that they were currently working. They were also seeking a six-day work week.

Paterson was the site of historic labor unrest that focused on anti-child labor legislation, and the six-month-long Paterson silk strike of 1913 that demanded the eight-hour day and better working conditions. It was defeated by the employers, with workers forced to return under pre-strike conditions. Factory workers labored long hours for low wages under dangerous conditions and lived in crowded tenement buildings around the mills. The factories then moved to the South, where there were no labor unions, and still later moved overseas.

Tidbits of Information for June 27

The Smithsonian

On June 27, 1829, James Smithson, an English scientist died and left an endowment to the United States to found the Smithsonian Institution. It was established by an act of Congress in 1846.

A few years ago my sister and I was on vacation in Washington DC and loved our vacation there. I wish we could have seen more; there is so much to do and see in DC that you need at least a week if not more. We had three days there and missed many of the sights and most of the many places that make up the Smithsonian. This deserves another visit, and one day hopefully, we will get back there.

In 1721 Dr. Zabdiel Boylston vaccinated his six-year-old son and two servants against smallpox. These were the first vaccinations given for the disease in the United States.

• Smallpox is a contagious disease caused by the variola virus.
• Smallpox was the first disease to be eliminated from the world through public-health efforts and vaccination.
• Smallpox still poses a threat because existing laboratory strains may be used as biological weapons.
• Smallpox causes high fever, prostration, and a characteristic rash. The rash usually includes blister-like lesions that occur everywhere on the body.
• Approximately one-third of people with smallpox died from the disease. Survivors were scarred for life. If the eye was infected, blindness often resulted.
• There are new experimental medications that might be effective in smallpox, but these have not been tested in human cases since the disease has been eradicated.
• The smallpox vaccine contains a live virus called vaccinia. It is administered by dipping a pronged piece of metal into the vaccine and then pricking the skin.
• The vaccine has uncommon side effects that may be fatal, including infection of the heart and brain with the vaccinia strain. Serious side effects are more common with the initial vaccine and are uncommon with second doses.
• The vaccine is currently only given to selected military personnel and laboratory workers who handle the smallpox virus.

Currently, the risk factors are working in highly specialized laboratories that may still have smallpox viruses in storage by accident or become contaminated while either working with the viruses or using the viruses as a biological weapon. Continue Reading