The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-07
SMALLPOX SCOURGE.
How it Has Been Raging in Mon
treal and Vicinity.
Compulsory Vaccination Finally Put
in Force in the City.

1t is week ago, says a Montreal (Canala)
dispatch of the 2ith since tho health board,
on tho recommendation Of the French Cana
dian members, aSre,l to try voluntary conf
pliance with regulation for isolation and vac.
cination as hope of stamping out the small
pox. Tho attempt was to have a weeks
trial. 1t has been IN utter failure. The
disease is rapidly on the increase, instead Of
being in any way diminished. Tho
board Of health has been made to feel that
tho epidemic has now attained proportions
which demand compulsory measures Tho
alarming mortality shows the utter futility
of the measures that have been tried The
official mortality returns show that S3S deaths
have occurred in the city from smallpox III
less than six months, and that the mortality
for September is already nearly double that of
August In vicw of these facts, at meeting
of the boarl of health tomorrow the Eng
lish membsrs will demand that compulsory
vaccination be at onre put in force. Ths
mode to be pursued will be rs follows: Tho
public vaccinators will 90 to the door of the
house, and ask for proof that all its inmates
are vaccinatcI If they are not vaccinatel,
AMI rofu', to DO vaccinated, the officer
will at once take action against thoso who re.
fuse, and they will be heavily fined. Fresh
action may be taken for every new refusal,
and there will be no appeal 1t remains to he
seen how the French Canadians will take
these stern measures but the following eli
torial utleranccs OF one Of tho most active
English members of tho boarl tonight eX-
press the unanimous opinion of the English
people of this city:
"Hero and now tho authorities intrUsted
with the city's veal have grave duty. Their
charyc is to pass from persuasion to action.
and give effect to wise and just regulations.
Irrespective Of prejudice or crankine's, let
them oblge every man, woman ana child on
.his island to he vaccnatel, and every one
i'll of smallpox to be SO secured and guarded
rs to bring to speedy end the visit of our
loathsome guest All depends on tho frmness
of or boar of health"
The returns show that there wero fifty
three deaths in the city yesterday
At the meeting of the citizens' committee
this evening q motion cenSuring the action
o. the government in establishing a military
camp at La Prairie was carried amid
loud applause a deputation Of promi
nent c;tizons was appointed to wait
upon Sir Ado:phe Caron, minister
of militia, who is at tho Windsor
hotel, and urge the immediate dishandment
of tho troops and the disinfection of their
clothing 1t is held that if this is not done the
smallpox will be spread all over the province.
A sp .aker mentioned that one street that
used to he cale the children's street, from
the number of children playing on it, was
now silent. The little ones had been swept
away.
At mo ting of the central board of
health. held this afternoon, it was resolved
that the bodies of those who die Of smallpox
during the day shall be buried within six
, Il ,tohf -,
twelve hours. 1t was forbidden to carry the
bodies of those who have died Of smallpox
in public or private conveynnces other than
those provided by local boards of health.