The Arkansas advocate., 1831-03-02

SMALL Pox-again.-Ihe good people of our town and vicinity have been considerably alarmed n consequence of the circulation of various ,,orts amongst us, that the small pox nnroioid is to considerable extent; and as the Gazette has dctatty announced tlat such disease diseas- es do exist, the excitement occasioned, IS ouently much heightened. Now as we do not pre- tend to be very knowing in these matters, were curious enough to ask the patient. who certainly hns been affected with some eruptive disease-what had really been the matter with him? He informed Us that he had once had the small pox, and he at loss to know the nature of the disease with which he had been recently afflicted, unless it the liquor he had drank during the last season, which had taken this extraordinary and singular method of leaving him.
 We regret, however, that circumstances have transpired which render 1t our duty 10 treat this matter seriously, Persons in our own vicinity, not only have become much alarmed, but travellers, in onseqtience of these reports, ayoid our town, and we fear, that soon, the little business which IS now transacted amongst us, will be at an entire stand and commercial intercourse seek some oth- CT ciIannei. This al though small and nconsidera- be in itself, IS of vital importance to comnu- nty-and 1t should be something than idle re- port, village gossip, that would cause such chan ges. If we could conceive that danger really ex- isted, would deem ourselves criminal ind e ed to hold out in the language of seeurity but to excite unnecessary alarms, Is certainly than criini- nal.
 Since the first of eruptive disease which made ilS dppbdFduCe among uS3 every person WHO has been the least unwell, from whatever cause, their indispostion has been immediately distorted
 into case of smaH DOT or uarioloid; and tAis may in some measure account for the many aud exag- gerated reports. We know of no case since the death of the negro, except one, that could by the most frightened imagHations, be wrought into case of the small pox; and Mr. Woodruff while he holds out the idea, that this was contracted by attending on the negro who died, whom he ayers to have had the small pox-yet he says, the indvid- ual in question: hadthe nsaU por tpt hs iafaacV and that this is otter disease though eoatYacted bg ajasalarity rOah genuine case of snatt poe! Ieav ing to believe that disease could communi- cate another, with much facility as the small pox could communicate the small pox. We have before said that we not knowing on these subjects but these things appear us perfectly reconcileable, and the language of Nr. Wood ruff is as greata soecism, as though he had said the ague and fever was actually the humps.
 MT. Woodruff, however, has heen little rerniss Tn his duty. If the disease or diseases. from which he apprehends so much danger, were real cases of small pox, or any other contagious disease, he is one of our commissioners, and we suppose has good deal of influence that way why not have the infected person, persons if more than one, re- moved out of town; this would 5e acfiag to pre- vent the spreading of te contagion. instead of tat zag to alarm the country.