The Osceola times., 1882-12-09
The small PON Scare.

tcf VI CouTS', tiiS crtaleu no iittie
excitement and alarm among the
citizens of Osceola. On inquiry il
was asccrtaincd that several members
of a family living on Carson's Lake,
by the name of Buckley, had the
disease, and that DIR. Dunavant had
been summoned Ia attend them.
Since the Doctor himself was taken
sick, the care Of the Buckley family
has devolved upon young DIR. e. J.
lledricks, and four out of six members
of the family have died.
The Mayor and several private in
dividuals, who seemed to be possess
ed of a lively sense of the danger,
if he was permitted to visit the small
pox patients and then minglc with
the people, notified DR.. uedricks
that he must not be so imprudent
and to take precautionary measures
to prevent its spread in our midst
subsequently His Honor, Mayor II.
). Williams, issued proclamation
sorbldding the going in or out at the
residence Of DIR. Dunavant. cxccpt
the attending physician aud nurses,
who were to use all due precaution
necessary under the circumstances.
Travel on the street fronting the Doc.
tors residence was also prohibited,
and placards posted, and the street
barricadcd, but all to no avail; the
majority of the colored people, who
can't read, paid no attention to the
notices, while the majority of those
who could read, didn't seem to care
a darn, and went by any way, wheth-
er business called them or not. Mr..
l.iston, who has had the smallpox,
and who no doubt feels safe, inlivid-
ually, tore down the barricade and
insisted, in going to and from his
home, in passing within fifteen feet
of the infected house. A meeting of
the Town Council was held last
Tuesday night, and when the Mayor
requested the board to take some ac-
tion in the matter, and wanted to
know whether his actions would be
supported by them if he undertook
to enforce his orders, it was suggest
cd by one of the councilinen that,
wheniver the smallpox became
epidemic in Osccola, il would then
be time enough to take action in the
matter" and the subject was then
dropped.
| The school children have been
stopped by parents, there being not
more than dozen pupils in attend
ance out of an enrolment of over
enc hundred and fifty, and the most
of them are permitted to roam the
streets at will.
: We have thus specifically stated a
few of the facts connected with the
smallpox scare, not with the view of
censuring any one in particular, but
in order to show our readers and
friends from the country, who trade
here, in the event that the loathsome
disease does not spread, what a good
chance it will have missed, and how
thoughtful and consideratc the peo-
pie Of Osceola were Of them and their
, families welfare, in a sanitary point
of view. y confagration that would
sweep every house in the town, with
an titiT CtllteitS. Woulu not ne. III
, our estimation, more to be deplored
, than an epidemic OF smallpox; but
Others are permitted to differ with us
on this point, and if they can stand
it, we'll try and do the same. In
the language of the over-prudent
councilman, If the disease doesn't
become epidemic, or the head of the
TIMES laid low," our readers NAV
expect the TINES regularly, unless
otherwise ordered.
Up to the hour of going to press.
no new cases have been reported,
and it may be that the usual good
luck which has attended Osccola.
will not desert her now.
0S-