Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-25
RAVAGES OF SMALL POX

The Town of Spring Hill. stearns County,
Terribly Affiicted-Four Weeks of the
Disease Without Medical Attendance and
In Ignorance of its Malignant Character
Twenty-four Cases in Four Families
Two Deaths Already and Tive More will
Probably Die.
The town of Spring Hill, fifteen miles
from Sauk Center, Stearns county, is being
terribly afflicted by the dread disease, small
pox. The fact of the visitation and suffering
were reported to Gov. Pillsbury Friday, and
at his request DR.. D. W. Hand, president of
the state board of health, visited the afflicted
neighborhool Saturday, returning home yes
terday.
DR.. Hand found that the town of Spring
Hill was quite thickly settled
with thrifty and industrious
Germans, a house being built upon nearly
every quarter section. The disease first ap-
peared about four weeks ago, and though he
found twenty-fo four cases in four families, in
which there had already been two deaths and
two more cases would probably terminate
fatally, there had been no medical attendance
of any kind to the sufferers. The fact that
such disease was prevalent was unknown a
few miles distant, while the people themselves
had no idea of the dread character of the dis
ease.
On Sunday, the day DR.. Hand reached the
neighborhood, one OF the victims was buried,
the funeral bringing together thirty or forty
of the neighbors. These were not only in the
same room with the corpse, but after the
funeral with the heads of three families in
which the disease was raging, met at the
saloon to talk over matters and drink beer.
Hearing of this gathering DR.. Hand went to
the saloon and made the crowd a
little speech, explaining the malignant
character of the disease, and the danger all
were running by coming into contact with
members Of the families where the disease pre-
vailed. He then explained the benefit and
safety in vaccination and invited them to come
forward for that purpose. At first all de-
clined, but finally the saloon keeper and his
entire family submitted to vaccination, and an
hour or two later all the others, some thirty
in number, did the same, and before he left all
in the immediate neighborhood were also vac
cinated, and arrangements made for rigidly
quarantining the four houses in which the
disease prevailed.
The origin of the disease in the locality is
unknown. So far as known, no one suffering
from it had been in the township, nor had any
OF the citizens been in contact with it else
where. The first to be taken down was TO-
year-old daughter of the local merchant, who
keeps little of everything, as Is usually the
case with a country merchant, and 1t is sur.
missed the germ of the disease may have been
received in the ready-made clothing or other
articles kept in the store.
Returning, DR.. Hand made arrangements
with DIR. Nc Masters, of Sauk Center, and DR..
Campbell, of Melrose, to take charge of the
community, and these gentlemen, with full
supply of vaccine and other necessary med
icnes and supplies, left yesterday Tor that des.
tlnation, where one or both will remain as
long as their services may be rendered in stay.
ing and eradicating the disease.