The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-03
SCARED ABOUT NOTHING.
The Scarlet Fever Fright Proved to
Be Il False, AiarHt-- Damaging. Re-
ports Have Gone Out Without Fcun.

The Scarlet Fever Fright Proved to
Be Il False, Alarm Damaging Re-
ports Have Gone Out Without Fcur-
| dation.
| The scare about scarlet fever in
Henderson appears to have been with
out foundation But it had the effect
OF putting damaging reports in circula-
ton all the same. Last week two or
three suspicious cases were observed
and the usual precautions were taken.
This was right and proper and the
| effect in one sense was beneficial to
the town in that it has caused it to be
thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
But the sanitary condition Of the COM
| munity was never better, or the health
| Of the citizens so generally good, even
before this, as is shown by the report
of the Health Officer. There were but
two deaths in town during the month
of April, one case Of brain trouble,
and the other a consumptive, both
colored. And one of these came here
from Portsmouth, Va, only short
time back. These facts we get from
the regular monthly report of DR.. W..
L. Cheatham, Health Officer.
When asked for statement concern
ing the report of scarlet fever here
DR.. Cheatham authorized US to say
there was none, nor had there been.
There were two suspicious cases, as
above mentioned, and one case of what
was supposed to be scarlatina, but
these are about well and no further
uneasiness is felt. There has been
some scarlet fever in the Eastern part
of the county, and two deaths have
occurred, but beyond this no serious
trouble exists. The scare was gotten
up by people who did not know the
facts, and those who sent their children
out Of town or were unduly apprehen-
sive now wish they had not been SO
hasty.
But some good has come out OF all
this. It has helped trade among the
druggists and increased the sale of
asafntida to the extent Of exhausting
the entire supply of that highly scented
if not delightfully."- odorous article.
Little bags of it have been strung
around the children's necks, and some
exciteable people have chewed it while
a few others have actually eaten the
drug, we are told. One man, an old
topper, DR.. Cheatham told us about.
Approaching him this man said he
had eaten lot of the stuff and wanted
to know if he would take the fever
after such precaution. In his charac-
teristic way DR.. Cheatham informed
him that he didn't think he would, but
whether there was any danger on that
score or not he had done we'll to eat
asafntida as by doing so he had purified
his breath very much There was no
longer the smell of foul fish, mean
corn whiskey, tobacco and onions
about him, and while there was no
scarlet fever to be afraid of he ought
to continue taking such precautions as
he had-for the benefit of others whom
he came in close contact with if not
himself.
The report that six deaths occurred
here Saturday from scarlet fever, is
false, as we'll as the rumor that yellow
fever had broken out here. This is
perhaps too absurd to dignity by IA de-
NAL, but lest some persons at dis
lance might believe every vague and
idle story told we deem it worth while
to put the stamp of falsity upon it..
There is no epidemic of any kind in
Henderson, nor has there been.