The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-12-16
Smallpox.

ment on which they can rely, in regard to the
number of cases of smallpox and as far as am
informed the number of exposures there has
been in this village.
The first case OF smallpox in our place was
Charles Jones' boy sixteen or seventeen years
of age, who had rdrfolG conffuenS and died on
the seventh day of the disease. This was very
malignant case, as is evinced by death in the
first week. As to where this young man con-
tracted the disease remains in doubt. Eight
days after the death of this patient, Frank
Martin and David Jones was attacked with
smallpox. The latter was a brother of the
young man who died. and it was in David's
house where Charles Jones died. Frank Mar
tin and his wife also, occupied rooms in the
same house. The case that died and the two
cases now hand, David Jones and Frank
Martin, are the only cases that there has been
or now exists in this village, gossip to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. The only persons who
have been exposed to this cases are Mr.. and
Mrs. JONES' father and mother of David Jones,
and also of Charles who died. Mr.. and Mrs
Jones acting as nurses, and they were pres
ent and nursed their son who died, and did not
contract the disease. Mrs. David Jones,
wife of David Jones, and Mrs. Frank
Martin were occupants of the house all
the time Charles was sick and have remained
and are helping to nurse their husbands, and
have not, as yet, contracted the disease. These
Idle rumor would lead you to believe, indeed
would have you believe, that there are now
dozen more cases in this village, and that at
least half of our citizens have been exposed and
are liable to take the smallpox any moment.
These rumors are baseless, having taken origin
in brains crazed with fear. The house in which
the first case made its appearance, and in
which the two cases now are, is isolated
house on Portsmouth street, and is well located
for a pest-house, being distant from all other
houses and on street not much Travelled. All
the persons who have been exposed to small
pox in this village are in this house, and feel
safe in saying that with prudent care there will
not be single case originate outside of the in
mates of this house from exposure to these
cases. Smallpox is a contagious not an cpl
demic disease. By saying smallpox is con-
tagious disease, 1 do not wish TO be understood
as saying that there must be a touch or touch
ing of person infected with smallpox. mean
that person before he can contract the disease
must come in contact with that subtle matter
which proceeds from another person who has
the smallpox, or to clothing containing the vi
rus, or to the air of the room which is impreg-
mated with the disease. Smallpox can be con-
tracted from clothing worn by a smallpox pa
tient, or by nurses, when the virus adheres to
their clothing, from the breath of the diseased
person, from the perspiration, and from the
excretions. Therefore, it is of the utmost inn
portance that the most vigilant watchfulness
and care should be maintained, in regard to
the clothing worn or used or worn in the room
of smallpox patient, and equal care is reQuir-
ed in depositing the excrement of the body.
No excrements from the body of a person with
smallpox should ever be permitted to be depos-
tied into the vault of public or private privy
| but should be buried, covering with fresh
earth.
Smallpox is not epidemic disease, although
| int
newspapers-and even hear physicians talking
about epidemic smallpox.
An epidemic is a disease which, independent
| of local cause, seizes great number OF people,
at the same time, or in the same season. We
have epidemic influenza, epidemic fevers, cpl
demic cholera, where no known local cause ex-
| lists. The late epidemic epizootic among the
horses, well as the people, is a fair exhibition
of an epidemic, the disease prevailing in every
latitude and longitude at the same time, and
without any known local cause. Smallpox
never assumes an epidemic character-there is
always a local cause, and can usually be traced
| to definite contact to clothing, or to persons
infected.
Smallpox is not endemic. 1t prevails in all
countries, and in every climate as a contagion.
Being contagious disease, smallpox can al
| ways be avoided by not coming in contact with
| the local cause.
When there is vigilance or the part Of the
people, in the community cursed with this con-
tagion, there is no need that the disease should
go one step beyond the first cases or exposed
families. 1t is easily cooped and retained in a
local pen, and will never break over its con-
fines, unless it is by imprudence on the part of
| nurses patients, or communities.
The disease is not contagious during the in
f1ammatory fever, nor is it contagious when
the eruption first makes its appearance. A
person may have the inf1ammatory fever and
the eruption cover the skin, with a thousand
persons in the same room, and not one of the
Thousand will contract the disease. Like the
| rattlesnake, it gives warning, SO that you may
flee from it before it bites. If you remain after
this timely warning until the matturating fe-
| yer is set up, you remain at your peril.
1t is my opinion with the care that is now be-
ing complied with, both by our public authori-
titles and citizens, that there will not be case
of smallpox in our village outside of the house
and families therein, where it now exists.
We have employed by the village authorities
a man who does all the catering for these fami-
lies, who has had the smallpox, and he is not
| permitted to go to the house, but carries pro-
| visions and other articles, to a convenient
place outside of the house, when the nurses OBJ
| tain them, and take charge of them. There is
nothing that goes to that house, permitted to
be brought away. NoRe of the inmates are per-
mitted to go on the streets, or away from the
| house.
| Now ifthis care is continued and rigidly en-
| forced, and the inmates who have been dis
eased are not permitted to mix among the peo-
pie until sufficient length of time has trans
pired SO as to render them safe then there can
not be another case in the place, unless it is
| brought from elsewhere.
The people in the country are more terrified
than we are, who live in the village, and their
exposure is now great as ours, for we conSid-
er that there is but little TO fear from this dis
ease among us; as we feel confident it will be
held under strict subsection where it now ex-
| lists.
1t the duty of our authorities and citizens
| to join in harmonious action to stay the
| spread of SO fearful disease-a disease that is
| much dreaded that duties common among
neighbors to those in distress, are totally ig-
| nored-and nurses and physicians who are do
| ing their duty-as unpleasant as is their task
| are daily cursed, and threatened, by an un-
| grateful, unfeeling, and non-reasoning people,
and even the diseased and dying are damned,
| for no other reason than their unfortunate con-
| dltion-a disease SO much feared that the mass
| of the people join in saying, 'Let the dead bu-
ry their dead; for me, will have none of II,
| nor 81 We aid to those who have"
A. B. MONAHAN, NJ. D.
JACKSON, December Is, 1876