The age-herald., 1897-08-14
NTRIS SCARE IS ABSURDF'
Said the United States Medical : Expert
THE DISEASE IS CONQUERED
The Government Authorities Consider That the Situation Warrants No Fear
 of Danger.

"Yes, those eases at your quarantine station are smallpox, but there is no dan ger of an epidemic. The disease is thor oughly under control; it's spread has been stamped out. This scare is absurd. Your board of health has acted promptly ard we'll In my opinion you will hear no more of smallpox here after week or two. There has been but one case since Saturday. In my opinion the disease has been stamped out of the city"
 Thus spoke Dr. P. M Darlington, past assistant surgeon of the United States Hospital corpss senh here to investigate the supposed smallpox epidemic.
 f'I cam sea no possible cause for alarm." continued the United States medical ex- pert "Wi.h the precautions that are be- ing taken by the local physicians, I con- slider the diseas at an end. Indeed, it had never gotten to a stage where there should have been any alarm, considering the thorough manner in which tn physi- clans handled it. The type of smallpox which has existed here has been of the very mildes;. No, there is no reason why surrounding towns should quarantine against Birmingham. My report ito the department will necessarily treat the matter lightly. see mo reason why the business interests of Birmingham will be affected in he slightest With vaccina- fion, isolation and prompt removal of persons who have been exposed there is absolutely no danger or any risk in per sons coming to Birmingham"
 Dr Darlington has had much expeai- ence with the smallpox. He said that he did not see as much danger in the num- iber of smallpox patients in Birmingham as he would if there were a dozen eases of typhoid fever here. Indeed, after a Thorough inspection of the camp. in com pany with Mayor Evans and County Healah Officer Barclay, he was surprised to find that so much alarm had been caused in Birmingham and the surround ing country by it. He attaches so little importance 10 it that he said it would be fecting apparatus here. This apparatus is now in Savannah, Ga, stored in the Plant RAilroad systems warehouse. He had full authority to wire for it's re- moval here, but said it was useless to do soahat the physicians of Birmingham were doing all that was necessary and were doing it we'll, and he expected to see every case of the disease stamped out even at the quarantine station with. in the next two or three weeks. If any new cases develop he said they would be few.
 Thus the smallpox scare is practically at an end.
 The Jefferson County Medical society met in the rooms of the Commercial club last night to hear the report of pr. Harrington. The medical fraternity was well represented and a large number of business men were present.
 Dr. Henley moved that in the absence of the president, Dr. Tally, that Dr. Robertson be made chairman. This was carried and Dr. Henley introduced Dr. Darlington.
 I didn't know that was the only speaker" said the doctor. "As am not a speaker I am afraid you will be dis appointed. wish to correct an impress sion that has gotten abroad. It seems to be the impression that was sent here to establish the diagnosis of a certain disease prevailing here. It is the duty of the surgeon general to look after in- terstate quarantines. I was traveiing in fhis direction and was sent here to report On this situation. visited your hos pital for courageous diseases this morn ing and I find that you have smallpox, but the majority of the cases are very mild. I have been told that your com mercial interests have been interfered with. I see no reason for this The number of cases Is not large for city of this size. The cases are decreasing ard l think the results are marvelously good.
 "I have been informed that the small