The Portland daily press., 1872-01-20
Capt. Windows Case.
PORTLAND JAN. 10Th 1872

To the Editor of the Press:
Finding the rumor that Capt. Winslow is
sick with the smallpox is still gaining ground,
and obtaining credence among people who
should know better, wish to use part of a
column in to-morrow's issue in disabusing their
minds of an idea which seems so persistent
and is so chimercal.
The facts are, Capt. Winslow has, or rather
has had, the measles and nothing more; and
have no doubt that his friends will see him on
the street in few days as we'll as ever, when
his countenance will show whether he has had
smallpox or not. .rs
wish further to say that there has been no dis
crepancy of opinion in regard to the nature of
this case, either entertained or stated, publicly
or privately, between his attending physician,
DR.. Fitch, and myself ..--.
Capt. Winslow was taken ill last week He
was aware that he had been exposed to
measles, and that it was time for him to be
sick, provided he had taken the disease On
the other hand he had no knowledge of having
been recently exposed to smallpox.
But like many others cases of measles, which
physicians are constantly meeting with, the
primary symptoms were not such as usually per-
| tain to the disease.
When the eruption appeared, it was of that
| form; which differs in some respects from the
| ordinary eruption of measles. Still, in summing
| up the whole of the symptoms of the case in
| Guiding its history, DIR. Fitch believed 1t to be
measles, and so informed the family and all 9th
ers acho inquired. But as there were certain
| symptoms analogous to those of the initiatory
| stage of smallpox, he took the precaution as
| all conscientious and careful physicians would
do, to yaccinate the inmates of the household,
and request that until the next day, visitors
might be denied admission to the sick room.
At his visit the next day, Saturday, he found
| the patient in a condition which fully warrant
ed him in saying positively, that there was
| nothing of the nature of smallpox about it.
! Which opinion he has continued to give, and
| will continue to give to all who inquire.
| By order of the City Marshal, saw Captain
| Wnslow on Saturday, of last week. And al
though could not have taEen oath then, that
| doubt of its character that had no hesitation
| in reporting it to the Marshal as measles. And
| from conversation with DR. Fitch this even
ing, am pleased to learn on that day, Satur-
| day, he entertained substantially the same opin-
| ion did myself.
| say L am pleased; I am, that took the
| same view of the case that he did. And know.
| ing the Doctors professional experience to be
| extended over many more years than my own,
and knowing his judgment to be fully matured
| and most excellent, l shall always be pleased,
when l have expressed an 0piaiQn on any pro
fessional question, involving doubt, to know
that his opinion is identical with my own. !
have not the slightest doubt but that, had 1
seen Capt Winslow on Friday of last week. !
should have entertained the same slight suspi-
clon OF something more than measles, that the
Dr. did: and taken precautions accordingly,
1t is a fact well known to physicians, that
some cases of measles SO closely resemble
smallpox, and some cases of smallpox sc
closely resemble measles on OF about the sec
Ond day of the eruption, that it ia an utter i'm
possibility for any man, however skilful, to say
positively which disease he has to deal with
And in one of these cases, which at first runs
out of the usual track of its class, we have t.
wait day or two for further developments, be
fore we can decide the matter. And surely il
times like these, when smallpox is spreading
over the country in every direction, and of
more malignant type than has been known to
prevail for years, it behooyes us all, when we
have case that leaves shadow of doubt il
our minds, and that doubt has any leaning to
ward smallpox, to use every preeaution +
= guard against the spread of a disease so terri
Bile in its results, whether they be life or death
have had more than one case, where l hay
had to wait day and sometimes two. befor'
1 could decide whether my patient had small
pox or measles and expect 10 continue to hav
such doubtful cases as long as [ practice tn
, duties which pertain to my profession.
, Respectfully,
.L.. s. p. GETcHEI, M. D.,
City Physician.