Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-31
is 1T SM.ILL-POX:
A Strange and Fatal MaIady Raging
In the Lower Part of Sussex County
--Physicians PuzzIed-Forty Sick
and the Disease Spreading--ScnOoI
and Churches CIosad

strange and Fatal MaIady Raging
In the Lower Part of sussex County
Physicians PuzzIed-Forty Sick
and the Disease spreading--sc
and Churches Closed.
The Delaware Inquirer, of Saturday
last, devotes nearly a column to the re-
marketable epidemic now prevailing at
Selbyville, Sussex county.
Selbyville is in Baltimore hundred, the
extreme southeastern district of the State.
II is small station on the Frankfort &
Worcester railroad and is almost OH the
Maryland line.
According to the Inquirer, the first death
from the mysterious disease occurred
more than week since, the victim being
Mrs. George Furman of Selbyville. "The
doctor who attended her did not, it seems.
know what her alment was, and in her
last moments-in fact during her whole
illness--friends congregated around her
bedside. Her funeral took place on
Sunday, and the little church in which
the memorial services were held was
crowded by country folk. According to
custom long established in this part OF
the State, the coffin of deceased was opened
and hundreds of people embraced the
opportunity to take the last look at the
deceased
No cause being assigned for her death,
the neighbors, recalling that She had
lately received buffalo robe from Phil
adelphia, at once concluded that the dis
ease must be smallpox. This conclusion
was strengthened when like case
occurred in the same village. Meanwhile
Mrs. Furman's two children died of the
disease and her husband was taken ill.
The thing went on spreading and on
Friday last 40 cases We're reported in and
about Selbyyille. Doctors disagreed as to
the nature OF the malady, one calling il
scarlet fever, another smallpox, third
describing it as an "eruptive fever" and
fourth owning his ignorance of the
subject.
son thursday, at Frankfort, several
physicians of the lower part of the county
held consultation as to the character of
the disease and, it is said, were unani-
nous in the conclusion that it was small
poX. Immediately, or as soon as the
news could spread, genuine panic en-
sued and Geographic order was sent to
Philadelphia for virus sufficient TO inocu-
late the inhabitants of Baltimore and
DagsbOrough hundreds. Yesterday DR..
Layton, here, was asked to transmit virus
for 100 persons and in the afternoon DR..
Richards sent lot down to the afflicted
community.
People are leaving the infected dis
trict in large numbers, and it was
reported yesterday that the schools,
churches and business places OF Bishop
vile, Selbyville, Roxana and Franllford
would have to be closed unless the disease
abated. Everybody is filled with fear,
and the people of Georgetown are becom-
ing apprehensive that the plague may
find foothold here
The Inquirer seems 10 be convinced that
there is ground for fear and urges that
prompt measures be taken to quarantine
against infected places, and supply the
sick with nurses and physicians. 1t is
also suggested that the State Board of
Health take the matter in hand.
THE DISEASE STILL RAGlNG-FOuR DEATHS.
SELBYyuLE, DEL., March 2S.-'rhe cpl
demic is still raging with the death of
four, the greatest mortality in the family
of George Furman, where il originated.
cannot say to what extent ii may scatter.
.-.-- DR., l.. p. MITCHELL,
SELBYvlLlE DEL., March 29.-The PEG
pie of this community are excited to the
highest pitch over what is supposed to be
smallpox. The first appearance of this
dreadful plague was about four weeks
ago, when the wife of George Furman,
living near RoNana, Ga small village
about four miles from this PLACED, was
taken sick and her attending physician
| pronounced her disease scarlitena. The
patient continued to grow worse and two
other physicians were called in. One of
them, prominent young doctor of RoX-
ana, pronounced the disease smallpox
and advised the people not to go to the
house. The other two differed in opin-
ion and said it was not smallpox and
informed the people that there was no
danger,
1t appears that the friends and relatives
of Mrs. Furman did not believe it was
smallpox and they continued their visits
| until her death, which was about IA days
| from the time she was taken sick. In a
| few days after Mrs. Furman's death, her
| husband and two of her children We're
taken with the same disease. There
| have now been five deaths, and about 40
are stricken down with this fearful
| epidemic. .-....
The strange part of this horrible tale
| is the failure of Mrs. Furnan's physician
| to detect the cause and character of the
| lady's illness and advise the community
of the same.
How this first originated is unknown,
as the lady who was first afflicted had not
been anywhere and there was no one Ia
| the house to bring the disease.
II was stated that the family received
a robe and some goods from the city, but
| this they contradict. .".
Ii the spread Of the disease continues.
and its deadly character is not changed,
it will he the duty of some person ~
organized body to quarantine the infected
community and prohibit travel between
those afflicted and their healthy
ncighbors.
There is no case of this lOathsomt
disease nearer than four miles of this
place. ....-.
Various precautionary measures ar,
being taken to prevent the spread of the
disease, among them the interdicting o
communication with the infected district
the closing of the public schools in Rox
ana ana plSlopNlllei anu tlt 6'iNla
vaccination of almost everybody in thu
towns and surrounding country.
Application will also be made to tn,
state Board of Health to cause such pre-
cautionary measures to be taken as i
may deem advisable, and there is talk o
stopping travel and the mails to RoNana
| --~ -
NEW CISTLE ELECTION.
| -
Preparations for the Contest Mex
Month-'rwo Tickets for Council
| men.
The New Castle city election takes plac