Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-02-06
Small Pox in Port Henry.
A CORRECTION.

EditO1 Rutland Herald Am article
in your paper of last Tuesday, regarding
the small pox in Port Henry, contains
so much untruth, and such an apparent
ly malicious attack on worthy physi-
clan that it seems only right for one who
knows the facts to correct some of the
mis-statements. And this l will do as
briefly as possible, after careful enquiry
which | have made.
1. DR.. Warner did not report Mrs.
Fields disease ''tO be chicken pox or
scarlet fever" as your correspondent
stated. But upon the first appearance
of the disease, he recognized it at once
as small pox, and treated it accordingly.
While he did not inform the patient at
once, nor proclaim it abroad, fearing a
needless panic, he did inform her hus-
band, and adopted measures to prevent
intercourse with the neighbors and con-
sequent spread of the disease.
2. 1t is not true that every many of
the neighbOrs called on Mrs. Field daily"
Only two are known to have done so,
after the disease appeared, and they only
once l believe; certainly not daily"
and both of these persons had the small
poX years ago.
8. DR.. Warner neU6r event directly
from her sick room among his other pa
tients," but made his call on Mrs Field
after all his other patients had been Wis
tied each day, and then he went directly
to his own home, where he changed his
clothing, and took such other precau-
tions as any wise doctor would in such
Circumstances.
4. No general indignation was ex-
pressed at the Doctors conduct as re-
ported by Memo but considerable of
that feeling has been shown at reading
your correspondents uncalled for insmu-
ations of inhumanity and ignorance
against a physician, whom so many of
us must always regard with gratitude for
his kindly and skillful help in some Of
our darkest hours
Both personal gratitude and a desire
for justice have led me to make these
corrections of "Nomos" report, for
while in this village nobOdy's opinion
will be changed by what memo has
written. Strangers who read the article
may naturally receive n very unfavor-
able impression of DR.. Warmers charac-
ter. and will not think much of the good
sense of a community that for twenty
years has not only permitted but enconr-
aged the prcseHcr or practice of such an
untrustworthy mcdic%l pretender As
memo" described. | do not know who
your correspondent is. but hope that.
when he again attempts to gather news
in other towns than his own, he will be
careful to get the absolute truth before
venturing to publish statements that may
sincerely injure the reputation of ii ply
stefan in whose care the health and life
of so many must often be trusted. The
medical profession demands of all
honest physicians, it seems to me,
so much forgetfuness of self and so
much devotion to the comfort of others
that it can never be paid for by any fees,
which they sometimes. but not always
receive. But their labors entitle them
to the thoughtful consideration and
grateful regards of the people among
whom they live. AT least they have a
right. in common with other men, to
have their words and actions trUthfuIly
published, If published at all.
L am glad 10 say That MRS. Fleld Is
steadily recovering, and that no other
case Of small pox has as yet appeared
here. All our physicians are employed
in vaccinating where it is needed, and
this, together with the prompt precau-
tionary measures adopted by the Board
of Health will, it is hoped, prevent the
spread of the disease, and put an end to
the panic Of talk. which has already con
siderably subsidized.
Yours truly,
VIM r. WoODBR1DGE.
Port Henry, n. Y, Jan. 81, 1878.