Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-25
A PLEASANT TRAVELLING COMPAN
ION.
A Case OF SMALLPOX on the New York
Central Railroad.

A Case OF SMALLPOX on the New York
Central Railroad.
From the Syracuse Standard.
Smallpox by no means prevents people
travelling around the country, on foot or by
rail. Some virulent cases, finely broken
out, have called on physicians in this city
to know ''what allied them" They didn't
like to think they had smallpox, and they
showed their sublime faith in their own
desire to travel about the streets and call at
the doctors Office and beg: "NoW, / aint
got the smallpox, have p" But they did
have it; and our physicians, who have no
more fear of the smallpox than they have
of the itch or good dinner, have not scru-
pied to tell them in plain language. But the
fearlessness of the doctors is not shared by
everybody. In fact, We ourselves would
approach beefsteak garnished with onions
with far more confidence than we would a
man broken outiwith smallpox. We be-
lieve our sentiments are those of the COM
munity in general. They were certainly
those of the passengers in one of the Cen
tral cars last Thursday.
The 10:40 A. NJ. east is the New York
express, and Thursday it was in charge of
conductor Frank Klock. At Canastota
IhO ulCll SOb On DOdlO3 dliu OllS VI IuClu
had his face SO muffied up that it was i'm
possible to catch glimpse at any portion
of his visage save his eyes. He took his
seat: the conductor called for his fare or
ticket which was paid to Utica. Just in
rear of the mufled individual sat man en-
gagged in reading. As conductor Klock
took the ticket ofthe former the reader look
ed up and inquired:
Conductor, what is that smells SOP"
KlOck. 81 haven't smelt anything yet,
sir!'
inquired. "But do; perhaps it is in
this book, just bought of the newsboy."
(And he smelt of the book.) ''No, it amt
that! 1t smells, as if-if some one were
sickr
The conductor left the car and thought
little more ofthe matter, but the passengers
took the suggestion, and commenced snuff,
snuff, snuff, and the most uneasy one of all
was the inquiring gentleman who sat just
in the rear of the silent and muffled pas
senger. The conductor soon returned, and
as he opened the car door he, too, was struck
with the singular odor that greeted his OIL
factories. The unpleasant suggestion at
once flashed over him: ''Possibly that man
muffied so has the smallpox Notwith-
standing the car was warm the fellow kept
himself persistently wrapped. The train
had Just then left Oneida. Klock approach
ed the man, and the odor grew stronger.
Conductor. ''What ails, you sir?"
Muffled Individual. "Nothing sirp'
G. care you not sick?"
MI. '.No, sir"
G. "But your face is broken out, and /
believe you have the smallpox, and are the
cause of this sickening odor in the car. 1t
is my duty to inform the passengers that
think you have the smallpox, that they
may protect themselves"
And he did sing out, 81 think this pas
senger has the smallpox, ladies and gentle
man had better obtain seats in the other
carsl"
This simple announcement was enough.
The inquiring man in the seat back of the
smallpox Individual, and who had 'snuff-
ed" the most, cleared the back of his seat
at a single bound. In his haste and terror
he attempted to take a bee-line for the
door through a very fat lady who was aiming
in the same direction. The old woman
screamed, and inquirer was obliged to tack
and get round. The remainder ofthe pas
sengers also made for the doors of the car;
pIODdDl1 lLlIJl SCCOlluS Hduu cldpScu UC-
fore Klock and his smallpox patient were
left alone in their glory, There was but
little doubt the man had the disease. At
Rome Conductor K. telegraped to Utica to
the city authorities to properly receive their
distinguished visitor. But none of the au-
thorities of Utica appeared, and the Central
cut the gordian knot by switching the car
from the train upon a side track, and Mr..
Smallpox was left alone in his glory. La
ter the Board of Health physician sum-
moned sufficient courage to visit the patient,
and it was found he had the smallpox. He
was from Prospect, and had been visiting
Canastota. We are informed that the
Board of Health physician left the man in
the car, and that finally a benevolent gen.
tleman of Utica, John F. Seymour, taking
pity on him, called his family physician to
care for the unfortunate man, took mat
tresses, bed clothing, ETC., to the car and
treated the sick man as a human being
ought to be treated.