Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-05-20
UNDER THE CURSE.
The Death Rate. by Smallpox Still Creep
ing Up and More to Follow
One Hundred Cases and
Over Thirty Deaths.

Additional reports from the scourge
stricken districts at the lower end OF the
State were received, yesterday, and contain
scarcely CLEAN of hope or ray OF light,
The smallpox has spread over q frightful
territory and the desthrste has been alarm
;,sly large. While the local health su-
thorities think they have tbs disease under
control, they admit the glominess OF the
situation and expect many new cases and
sddiI ional deaths
Gov. Jackson ordered the purchase, by
the State Board of Health, of a'supply Of
vaccine, but before arrangements had been
completed for such supply, his excellency
received letter from DR.. Ewing, vaccine
sgent cfthe Third district, at Charleston,
assuring him that there was
NO SCARCITY OF VACCINE,
and that be had not only supplied all de-
msndr from the infected district, but, in
addition, had a supply on hand sufficient
to vsccinate 1000 persons. Upon the re-
CERT OF this assurance, the State Board de-
cliped to 90 further In the matter. II there
is sny mistake about this supply, OF
course. the responsibility can neither
attach to the State B ard nor the Gov
erncr. Gov. Jackson wishes the people
who have been 50 severely stricken in
Mercer and Wyoming counties, to feel as
sureG Of bis sympathy and willingness to
do an y and every thin: in his power to
I'll ,eN late their necessili s and save them
from death by smallpox.
DIR. Reeves yesterday received two re-
ports from DR.. Bee. OF Sercer. One OF
these was delayed for some days, and was
ds ed May 10. After thanking the State
Bosrd for its prompt aid, DR.. Bee proceeds:
~ am heartily ashamed vi this
FEARFUL EPIDEMIC AMONG OUR PEOPLE.
But you may imagine how such thing
might have happened in the Canaan dis.
trict Of Randolph or the wilderness OF
Tucker and Webster counties and you
have a solution of the question. Some one
il Sken sick With an erupiIe disease, re-
ported TO he chicSenpox; everybody for
miles around goes TO see him, doctor Is
sent for, is told there has been no chance
for small pox; he believes this, goes home
and attends his patients until stricken
down himself; his chicken pox patient
dies and 49, persons attend his funeral, ana
then the authorities begin 10 hear about It
aud you know tue rest.
Y on can hardly conceive the alarm that
perYades this whole country, an hau II
not been for the prompt action we took,
when communicated with You, God only
knows what would have become OF us. 10
tell the truth, things are gloomy now.
We have the disease under control, ana i
UaL spread no NOR; but before we were
aware of It's existence nearly two hundred
persons had been exposed TO the contagl9n.
Eighty four are now sick aud htteen deal;
sLd many more are yet to become sick and
die
In his second letter, which is dated May
Ii, DIR. Bee writes that the situation Is
MORE GLOOMY THAN EVER.
There are, he says, an equal number OF
cases and have been an equal Number OF
deaths in Mercer and Wyoming COUNTIES
The injected district is just on tue bOri-r
line. Dr. Bee complains that the local
board Of Wyoming has not wholly done its
duly and has left many OF the sick III that
county to Ihe care Of the Mercer board.
'lf from no higher motive than that OF self
preservation" writes DIR. Bee, we are cOm-
PEELED to give the Wyoming people the
same aid We give own own, for when We are
riu Of small pOx, il will return, if it is so
hear us. We have employed several
nurses, a physician, and in fact have done
and are doing all We can. We sent two
wagon loads Of supplies to the infected
rglOn, including bread, furnished by the
Isdies OF town, medicines, hOur, crackers,
mUla>Ses. sugar, rice. coffee, salt and other
articles. Tor the sick and their families, for
all have to be provided for.
The last report from DR.. GOOch, who IS
treating the sufferers, is not encouraging.
Il seems that the quarantine is complete
and effective, but the disease from some
cause, seems to be
TSTsrArIN MALIGNANT
and fatal. Some Of the best citizens of the
>COurged neighbOrhOOd have died. Whole
fsmihes are dying out. There seems to bA
10 distinction with respect 10 age or sex.
The old pa son OF sixty gets we'll and the
ntaut anu middle agert die, and r'rc r'rW
There must be some surrounding influence
modifying, in some instances, and IN others
rendering the disease more severe will visit
the mountain in q short time and look into
the matter. Thus far our information Is,
in msny particulars, unsatisfactory and
uncertain. Our last reports give - deaths
and 81 persons sick, with - more that have
neen expused. At proper time | will
make full report. with such details as
may be of some value, but now anything
ike a correct statement of the situation Is
uut of the question
Or Bees letter closes with thanks for the
kindly interest taken hy the officials here.