The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-11
NOT OF ONE OPINION
Physicians Can't Agree on the Nature
of McDODaId'S Illness.
FROM SMALLPOX TO MEASLES
DR.. Alvord Says Its Chickenpox-
The Views of Wells. Kress and
Hammond-Mo Diphthe-
ria In VAUDEVILLE.

1t is a question of medical authority
as to whether or not there is a case of
smallpox or varioloid in Walkerville
and the disputed point is attracting a
great deal of attention. DR.. Wells, the
city health officer of VAUDEVILLE, and
DIR. Kress diagnose it as a case of va
rioloid, while Dr. Alvord, the county
physician, says that 1t Is nothing more
serious than a case of chickenpox.
The following communication was re-
ceived from DIR. Alvord yesterday
Butte. May 10. 1896.
ITO the Editor of the Standard
Dear Sir:-At the request of several
physicians and in view of the very
natural interest of the public in mat
tiers of. this sont, l have decided to
make the following statement, which
you may publish if you see fit.
80 far as / know there is no small
COX in Walkerville. / saw Mr.. Melon
aid early yesterday, Saturday, morn
ing and recognized at once that he
was not suffering from that disease.
AS a precautionary measure, however,
1 recommended that the quarantine be
continued. l may add that every pre-
caution has been made for the recep-
ton of this patient at the pest house
and the public may rest assured that
in fhe event of any serious epidemic
its interest will be carefully guarded
by the board of health. Very respect
fully, George f. Alvord,
County Health Officer"
Mr.. Buggy called at the Standard Of
flee last evening and stared that he had
been requested by the citizens of Walk
erville to protest against the further
circulation of reports that the city is
overrun with disease. He says that the
man Mcdonald has nothing more Sc
rious than chickenpoX, and not the
smallpox or varioloid. There are not
more than five or six cases of diphthe-
ria existing at present, he says, and
there has been only one death from
that disease. He says that quite
number of people are suffering from
sore throats, but that they have moth
ing resembling diphtheria.
Drs. Wells, kress and Hammond
have not changed their diagnosis of
the Mcdonald case and will not con-
cur I'm the opinion of DIR. Alvord. I'VE
have all seen a great many cases of
said DIR. Kress last even
ing, "and a number of cases of small
pox that looked like this, and we have
seen smallpox that did look very much
like IL. 1t is certainly not a case of
in our opinion. II IL is not
varioloid ii Is pustular measles. We
have seen the case twice and DIR. AL
word has seen 1t once. DIR. Wells and
L went over MCDONALD very care1ully
last night, after our diagnosis had
been contradicted, but we did not
change our opinion in the slightest
degree. He is covered with an ele-
waited rash and the pustules feel as
though they contained shot The rash
is very thick on the upper part of his
body and through his hair and extends
to his hands and legs. Mcdonald was
so weak that he could hardly stand
up. Some of the symptoms of small
pox are rather poorly defined, but the
rash certainly favors our diagnosis of
the case. McDonald's temperature last
night was Sc and his pulse was slightly
above normal. of course, we are not
infallible, but the developments of the
next two or three days will settle the
point as 70 whether we are right or
not. While the case Is under strict
we believe that il would
have been wiser TO have removed it TO
the pest house"
Another case of diphtheria developed
In walkerviIle yesterday. II Is in the
family of Frank Pignocco and is very
sc rious.