Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-03-09
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS.
The Diphtheria Scare.
The Death Of VIII X. Cotton from the
Observation-Disclosures Precautions not
ProperIy Observed.


The Death Of VIII X. Cotton from the
Disease---QuRrantine Precautions not
Properly Observed.
Nothing which has occurred in our vii
lage for many months has oCcasioned the
intense interest in all circles that was
caused Monday morning by the report that
Will +. Cotton had died during the previ-
Gus night from diphtheria at his rooms in
Bridgeman block on Westminster street
The excitement was from the fact OF his
having been i'll week with that disease
with no proper effort at quarantine about
80 boarders taking their meals in the
block and many visiting him without
thought of danger Visitors were admit
ted without warning until almost the hour
of his death. DR.. j. SutCliffe Hill, who
has been a regular practicing physician in
our village for the past six or seven years,
was in attendance from the first, no other
being called until DR.. Allbee was sent for
40 minutes before MI Cotton died, DR..
Hills statement is to the effect that he
knew the disease at first to be "tonsilits
or diphtheretic sore throat which is
usually ouarantined until it is ascertained
what it develops into that he knew it to
be serious case of diphtheria as early as
Friday, and yet neglected to alarm the fam
lily or friends by quarantine because of a
wish not to injure Mr. Colton's business,
all of which seems ineXcusable
Naturally much anxiety was felt early in
the week, and this still continues in a less
degree as to the danger of the disease
spreading, but up to noon of today, Fri
day, no other case has been reported, and
it is hoped none will appear, The block
was not quarantined as early as should
have been done even after the death, as the
body lay there during Monday, and was
not buried until O'Clock in the afternoon,
and the warning quarantine card was not
displayed until after o'clock. The card
remains there still, and every effort has
since been made to fumigate, and to pre-
vent the spread of the disease in all locali-
ties.
Dr. Hill was a member of the village
board of health, appointed by the bailiffs,
and was also appointed by the state board
of health for the town of Rockingham.
He has now resigned both positions, The
other members of the board for this village
were T. +. O'Brien and w. J. Eaton,
neither of whom were informed of the
case by DIR. Hill until Monday. Mr.. Eaton
has also resigned his position and the bal
lifts have appointed Drs. f. S. Allbee and
j. NJ. Ridden to fill the two offices.
Much sympathy is expressed for Mrs.
Cotton and her two small children in their
afiiiction. 1t is understood she will con-
tinue the business, it being well establish
ed. Mr. Cotton was well known here and
a general favorite. He was employed a
number of years as clerk at the CONNER
cial House and had but recently taken a
lease of all of Bridgeman block except the
4.
first floor. The building was being fitted
up so it could almost be called a hotel, il
being run practically as one, Its principal
reputation was for its excellent table board,
and large number of people were taking
meals there Mr.. Cotton was a native OF
Chester, and his father is now proprietor
of a hotel in Ludlow.