Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-15

About four o'clock In the afternoon,
Drs. Garrison, JepSon, Pipes and sta
theirs visited the patient, and the three
last named made diagnosis of the case
The result OF this diagnosis appears, so
| far as smallpox is concerned, in the fol-
lowing statement
WHEELING, w. Va, January II, ~.
Captain Fred Kimble:
DEAR SIR,-AtyOur request we have eX-
amined William Williamson, from your
steamer Matte +. Allen, and have given
/ To DR.. Garrison, Health Officer, our Opin-
| ion that the case is not one OF smallpox.
IS l.. JEPsON,
y. II. PIPES,
Nv. r. SrATHERs.n
/ Last evening u reporter for the REG
lSrER called upon DR.. JepSon, and in
reply to question regarding the case,
the Doctor said:
public officers having to guard the
I health of the community. must be more
careful than the rest OF Us in dealing
with cases of suspected contagious dis
ease. Some of the eruptionS on the
boys hands and wrists do, somewhat
resemble small pOX, and hence DIR.
| Garrison and DIR. Ulrich are not to blame
for their opinion and for their measures
of protection
/ DR.. Pipes was seen, and said;
Il have no hesitation in saying that
the disease is not small poX."
"Have you any objection to saying
what il isl
Il think II case of ScdbieS, simply
that and nothing more. ! am sure it is
not smallpox"
Captain Kimple, one Of the four own
ers of the Allen, the others being MeSSrS.
| l.. Kramer, IL. K. Kraft and William
| Richardson, of ParkerSburg, was seen
| last evening. He said
Our chief anxiety is to get our boat,
which is tied up at Heatherington's out
of the present trouble. We have a con-
siderable quantity of periShable goods
on board, and are losing money right
along. don't think we ought to have
/ been Quarantined against until the dis
ease was certainly diagnosed.
DR.. Garrison was seen, and was asked
7 If the diagnosis OF the physicians would
have any effect upon his policy in treat
/ ing the case. He said
''No, sir; ii will not. l shall go right
along, doing what conceive to be my
duty TO the people Of this city. The
case will, hereafter, be completely iso-
lated, no one being allowed 10 visit the
patient, and he will remain in that con-
dition until convaleScent and cured.
have had sufficient experience with
smallpox TO know the characteristics OF
the disease, and have no doubt upon the
subject"
DR.. Ulrich was also seen, and said:
Il have no doubt of the character of
the disease. IL is smallpox. No other
eruptiye disease presents the same APP
pearance as smallpox. In that disease
the postuleS are very regular as TO size
and shape, and that Is the characteristic
of this ease. | passed through the
Louisville smallpox epidemic, having
seven cases, and seeing many others,
and there is no doubt in this case"
DIR. Ulrich also submitted the follow
ing card
WHEELING, w. Va, January Il, 1921.
To ne Editor Of TIE Register
"Sm-As there has been some reflections
made, Indirectly, on my conduct and on
NV diagnostic skill in regard to the case of
smallpox now in quarantine under the
care Of the city health officer, / desire TO
saw a word or two in my vindicatiOn. | do
not seek controversy and Will not engage
in any, unless directly attacked. ! will re-
late the case Just as it occurred; On Mon
day afternoon the young man came 10 my
office, presenting papers recommending
him for admission 10 the hospital as a ma
rine. He showed me the left hand and
when saw it ! exclaimed, You have the
smallpox The other hand was filled
with papillp and vesicles, the first and
second stages of the disease. The face
was clear. but the body was heavily
sprinkled with the incipient form.
'"As there are no provisions in the Ma
rine Service at this port for treating such
cases, ! was compelled 10 turn the case over
10 the City Health Onicer.
II addressed the following note to him
'DR. GARRIsoN:-I send you a case that
appears to me to be small poX. II you
agree with me in your diagnosis, take
charge of him. II you differ with me, send
him back, aud will see what can be done.
"'Yours, &c,
&C. f. ULMcH.
81 purposely expressed it in doubtful
manner because | did not wish him 10 be
Influenced by me, although was, and am
vet convinced that il is small pox do
not wish 10 reply to the i'll bred assertion
made by one physician, that ! uon know
small pox when / see it, but will simply
say that | went through one Of the most
fearful epidemics Of small pox that has been
known in modern times, in the city Of Lou
isville, Kentucky, Il or IS years ago, and
ought 10 know something about II.
"It has been said that as Marine Surgeon
il was my duty to take charge of the case.
The regulations by which am guided say
that the expenses of marines, who are sub
iected to quarantine by the city authori-
ties. will not be paid out of the marine
fund Our hospital will not take them.
Now. what could do Quarantine him at
my own expense and treat himi No sane
person could expect this of me. Why it
would swallow up my whole years salary,
besides running my practice for the time.
Even if had been in doubt as TO the
nature Of the disease, was to run the risk
OF communicating the entire community by
placing him in the hospital or permitting
him to run at large ] do not interpret my
RESPONSIBILITIES as citizen and as a public
officer in this way.
80 II Irtprru NJ u