Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-15
A BRAVE DOCTOR.

When Herman Dean was in college and
the medical school, he was 20 timid and so
allow OF speech that his fellow students made
him the butt of frequent jokes.
He seemed to know his lessons, but in en-
deavoring TO recite them he fioundered about
and clutched at his words desperately and
awkwardly, and made but a poor appear
ance. One could not help smiling at the tall,
clumsy, blushing fellow. But he worked at
some OF the problems that discouraged the
rest OF us with a stubborn courage that en-
abled him more than once 70 surprise us and
put us 20 shame. thorough seemed TO be
bis motto.
He took his degree Of NJ d. with honors.
and soon afterward we heard that he had
been appointed United States medical in.
spector on the Maine frontier.
He entered upon bis official duties IN 1856,
the year OF the memorable smallpox epi-
demic, which In Montreal and the surround
ing villages ragged destructively among the
French Canadians With almost incredible
fanaticism, thousands of these people refused
TO be vaccinated They decared that to vac
climate was to oppose the Divine will God
had sent la picotte, and to try TO prevent its
spread was wicked. The Canadian health
officials in attempting TO compel them TO be
vaccinated were tiercely assaulted, their Gags
and placards torn down, and the people rioted
in the streets Under these circumstances it
was almost impossible 70 check the epidemic
The American health officials established a
rigid system Of inspection along the Cana
dian border, and required that all passengers
on railroad trains coming from Canada
should be fumigated- Surgeons with the
necessary appliances were stationed at the
railroad stations and on the wood roads and
forest trails leading across the boundary to
vaccinate all people arriving from Canada
who had not already been vaccinated.
Young DR.. Dean was directed 10 make
tour OF the logging camps in the Moosehead
lake region, and TO vaccinate every manFin
their crews whose arm did not show fresh
scar. Among these loggers were many ignor-
ant, lawless fellows, some OF whom had the
stupid prejudice against vaccination which
had led the French people across the border
to resist the efforts OF the Canadian doctors
Their employers and the foremen, however,
were heartily in sympathy with the work of
the surgeon, and did their best TO compel
their men TO submit TO his lancet.
In one of these camps DR.. Dean encountered
a French Canadian called Pierre Couteau,
who was unusually obstinate and showed
vicious temper in his opposition to the doc
tors purpose to vaccinate him. He was a
huge fellow with black beard, and great
red scar on his forehead
Its of no use for you to hang ofT-you've
got to have the job done said Dixon, the
boss Of the camp.
''Non answered Pierre, crisply and dog.
gedy
Don't make any fuss about it! Roll up
the sleeve of your frocklr ordered Dixon
Dr. Dean took a step toward the Canadian.
NO" growled the fellow, with an ominous
emphasis, at the same time graspiug his ak
as If to strike. His eyes flashed, the scar on
his forehead grew redder, and he fairly
bristled with wicked determination.
Dixon was furiously angry, and burst into
q torrent Of profane Explanations.
Leave this camp, and don't YOU ever come
back, you brutel" he cried I'VE don't want
any murderers here"
Pierre muttered a few words in his native
patois, flashed defiant look az the foreman,
dropped his AK with a scornful gesture and
turned TO so away.
In a second DR.. Dean sprang upon him,
tripped him, threw him to the ground. face
downward, and jumped on his back. Dixon
came quickly to his assistance and helped to
hold the man down.
Throttle tho .coundrel!" exclaimed the
excited foreman.
NO" said the doctor. coolly, I'm going
20 vaccinate him"
A friendly wood chopper happened to come
along He helped Dixon to hold down the
struggling, cursing, frothing man, while DR.
Dean cut away his frock and shirt, criscrossed
bis skin with his lancet and rubbed in the
vaccine In less than a minute the operation
was over.
Trembling with rage, but cowed. the Cana.
dian jumped up, flung back an angry threat
ut the doctor, took his small pack OF clothing.
and, still breathing vengeance, strobe away
from the camp.
II dunno; guess you made mistake, "
slid Dixon
"WhyF asked the doctor.
That critter is liable to kill you He's
bad Onei | rather think 'twould have been
better 20 let him go without trying TO vacci-
nate him. +"
IF I'd let him 60 he'd be liable TO kill IA
hundred men instead Of one, replied the doc
tor. He nigh: be the very ons to spread
the smallpox all through this region One
unvaccinated man ia a constant menace. The
only safe way Is for me to obey orders and
So that everybody is vaccinated"
to take his station at n point where a much
Travelled road through the woods crossed the
boundary between Maine and Canada The
Canadian Pacific had gangs at work In Maine
and many men were going back and forth
across the border. A log cabin was built for
the doctors accommodation, n turnpike gate
was put up, aud no man was allowed TO pass
without first having barred his arm
The cabin was furnished with stove
hunks and few necessary pieces OF furni-
ture, and well stocked with provisions
A young man known As Dan wRs engaged to
stay with the doctor n his cook md conpan-
Ion, aud he also had the company Of q large
mastif and two less sociable friends, a pair
OF rifles.
The cabin stood In the midst Of a dense
forest, In whi,;h were many wild animals; the
nearest human neighbors were the men in a
railroad camp, twenty miles away The
trout which abounded IN "a stream that
flowed past the cabin often contributed to the
bill Of fare Of the doctor and his assistant.
Once Dan shot deer which supplied them
with venison for several weeks. Their table
was at no time scanttly furnished. they had
q collection OF books. the air of the woods was
invigorating, and they enjoyed their wild
life.
AAnOst every uhy men Win PACKS on their
backs came along the road from Canada, and
were stopped and vaccinated. Sometimes
they grumbled, but for a long time no one
resisted the doctor outright At night the
two young men took turns at watching the
gate, and the traveller over the turnpike TO
Maine, Mt whatever time he arrived. had 10
stop and be examined
Week after weak passed and still the young
men had no serious trouble in the perform
ance Of their duties.
One forenoon the doctors assistant took
DOWN one of the rifles, and, saying that ba
would try TO ret some partridges for dinner,
started into the woods. The doctor was sit
ting on the door stool Of the cabin reading q
book.
II wouldn't go very far away, DAN" he
said.
"Oh, poohl You won't have any troublel"
No, but our Instructions, you know, are
10 stick right here" said Dr. Deap
81 shan't run of, ~ laughed Dan.
Better not go so far that you can't bear
me II l should CALI
well. If you want me, you halloo, and III