Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-12-24
AlPeNA WEEKLY ARGUS.
Tuesday, December "a, 1872.
SMALLPOX.


that the diseas has assumed a NOR
dangerous form than at first, ! u
the flct that at last thorough,
efficient and active Board of Health
has taken the matter in hand ant
show tie vim that men should ex'
hibit on such occasions, gives us,
and we think should give all, the
greatest grounds for hope. With
the measures now inaugnrated, car
ried out faithfully, our city can he
rid of the pest soon, and although
il cannot be expected that we will
be entirely free from it during the
cold months, still it can be kept
from So ding much, and those
who d. take it saved from death.
4 good hospital is now in running
order, and although only little
time has elapsed since it was first
occupied, the Board has shown so
much energy that it is comfortable
and well managed. A number Of
kind and attentive nurses are in at
tendance. and everything calculated
10 check the disease and restore
the patients is being rapidly sup
piled. Those who are obliged 10
send their friends there can feel
sure that they will be well treated.
There is spirit exhibited now
among some of our citizens that is
hardly, in our opinion, proper
one. They seem to stand back and
TO nothing but growl at the Mayor
and Common Council for not doing
this or that thing when the disease
first broke out. Now the city gov
eminent may have slept little, but
our citizens should remember that
up to few days ago half of the doc
tors of our city insisted that it was
the chicken-pox, and were so posi-
tive in their statements that it was
not smallpox that the Mayor and
Aldermen were, we presume, I'M
certain, like the rest Of the COM
muuity, as to the nature of the dis
case. and while in this condition
could hardly be expected to do any
thing. If it was chicken-pox and
tlcy established pest house
and spent the peoples money. all of
them would have been called fools,
and most artistically damned by the
very men who now curse them for
not knowing more than the doctors.
Now let us all, instead of mourn
ing over the errors Of the past few
weeks, pour in help TO the Off
GERS in their efforts, and give
them the credit of doing at least,
at this time, all that could be ex-
pected of them. And if any one
is to be blamed, cursed or kicked
for letting the disease spread, by all
means let be those who are deserv-
ing of it, and not the Mayor, Coun-
Gil or Board of Health.
And in this connection let us say
n few words to the citizens gener-
ally. We presume that nine out Of
ten of them are more scared than
hurt, while others seem to know
more about their neighbours bust
ness than their own, and 90 not
scruple to put in circulation any
report that may best suit their fan
cy. The disease has been reported
in nearly every house in the city,
hut when sifted down the state
ments prove to be without founda-
ton in nil ety-nine cases out of a
hundred. Last week reports were
pr evalent that out Of five in q fam
lily, something less than three hun
dred were down with the smallpox
at our own residence. This rumor,
however, is without truth in the
least, as there is not even any one
sick in the house, and we don't
mean there shall be. But this re-
port undoubtedly arises from the
fact that about twenty years ago
our better half had the smallpox,
but we think she has sufficiently
recovered to be freed from medical
treatment.
II people will be as anxious to
tell the truth in regard to these
matters as they are in circulating
such groundless reports, we have
on doubt that the disease will be
routed from our midst just as soon,
and that the cases will be as few as
If reported in every house in town
by people who have nothing else to
do but tell all they hear, and add