The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-05-16
MP HOOPS REPORT

to the County Court of Hamblen
county, which we copy from the
proceedings of its last meeting, will
prove an interesting paper to our
readers, giving as it does brief and
authentic history of the smallpox
epidemicin Morristown and vicinity:
To the worshipful County Court of Hamblen
county: tfI
/ beg leave to make the following
report of the smallpox epidemic in
your county. a.sss
/ was called by telegram from
Mayor Mcfarland to come to Nor
ristown on April 9th. j then found
4 cases In town and 2 in the coun-
try. From the history Of the cpl
demic, / find that Thomas Read re-
turned home from Chattanooga and
other points in the Southwest about
the 10th or 18th of March last /;
shortly afterward he was taken sick
and died on the 4th or 9Th day of
his sickness not, however, having
developed a smallpox eruption,
which rendered the diagnosis of his
case very uncertain. But the sub
sequent history of the cases follow
ing his prove, beyond doubt, that
he brought the smallpox to your
county-for, from IL to IA days af-
ter his death, eight others who were
exposed at the time of his death,
were stricken down with small pox,
to-wit: Mrs. Read, his mother, who
died on the 18th day of her sickness (;
James Neal, Isabel Neal, Mrs. Davis,
Sarah Gillian, Amanda Williams,
(colored,) Kate Moorelock, (colored, }
and Mack Fulton, (celored).
On the 18th day after the death
of Mrs. Read, of the 6 persons who
prepared her body for burial, took
the disease within n few hours of
each other, and the eruption appear
ed within two hours on all Of them.
From the persons first named
above, the disease infected eight
families.
BY isolation and careful watching
no other members of the families of
Mrs. Huffmaster, Mrs. Stubblefield,
Mrs. Noe, Mack Fulton and Mrs.
Walker, have had the disease yet.
With care and prudence the dis
ease is at an end in town, with the
possibility of one or two cases of
varioloid in the Walker family. The
others having all passed the usual
period of incubation. The disease
has passed through the family of
w. G. Davis, yet in quarantine with
the Walker house, both so carefully
guarded, a further spread of the
disease need not be feared.
In the country the disease has
been confined to three houses-the
Gillian, the Howard and the Proffitt
housewife the strong probability
of John Smiths family being at
tackled, as they were exposed to
Mrs Howard, whose case was con-
cealed for a week before | found her.
All of the Smith family have been
and revaccinated, with
what success remains yet to be seen.
Up to this time there have been
80 cases and IL deaths-2 deaths
before came, Mrs. Read and her
son.
| herewith hand you a list of
cases, and 4 list of deaths, with dates
Of death.
1t is pleasing duty to speak of the
of your commissioners, of
their energy and promptness in per-
their respective duties; also
Of Mr.. James NJ. Mcfarland. and
Mrs. Powers, for the promptness
with which they responded, when
,alled to bury the dead, many of
whom had to be buried after night.
Especially to Mr.. Mcfarland too
much praise can not. be awarded for
lis skill and thoroughness in disin-
Getting and cleansing the infected
houses much of which work is, yet
o be done; to him is due in a great |
iegree the safety of your town and
county. Great responsibility and |
labor attend his work. In
his connection | would recommend |
he destruction of the Gillian and |
oroffitt houses, as they cannot be |
afcly disinfected. This will require |
m order from your Court to have |
hem valued and burned.
/ cannot close this report without
aging a word of commendation for
he valuable services of the Rev.
Oliver, Alex. Black, Mrs.
Emma Ingraham and her son, also
Wade Smith and Mary Jones, in
ursing the sick. All the above are
rained, experienced nurses.
first served the corporation of
lorristown five days beginning
lpriI 9th, then your commission
iking charge. l served your coun-
7 twenty-O one days ending May the
tn. L now feel confident the cpl
emic is at an end. Your quaran-
ne has been q success. s
In conclusion, permit me to re-
Urn my thanks TO the Court, the
and the citizens for
nc many acts of kindness shown
lie since | came among you. ~
All of which is respectfully sub
lifted. ~ -.. S. p. Hoop.
Morristown, May z, 1888.
II
The nearest approach to an Off
al statement of facts regarding the