Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-24

Jepson
The following circular letter, issued
to physicians by City Health Officer
Jepson, is salf-explanatory
Health Office,
WHEELING, w. Va, Dec %, 1898
During the present year small pox has
prevailed extensively in the southern
States. Since the advent of cool weather
it has appeared in the States nearer to US.
A recent outbreak in Pennsylvania has
been recorded in the daily papers. Infor-
nation reaches me that the disease is in
Washington, d. c., Norfolk and other
towns in Virginia, from which state it
was last summer brought into our State,
and quite number of cases occurred
among the colored miners. The State
Board of health gave valuable aid in its
suppression.
"A private letter from the Kentucky
State Board informs me that 524 cases
I have occurred in that State, and DR..
Probst, Secretary Chio State Board. re-
ports to me that up 10 Nov. so, about $50
cases had been reported in thirty or more
towns in Ohio. On the above date the
Secretary sent to all the local Health
Boards d special circular, in which he
says: Smallpox has already spread in
many sections OF the State, and there are
now so many centers of infection that
there is considerable danger of a general
epidemic. 1t is feared that the
disease will gain in malignancy as cold
weather comes on.
II think it proper to lay the above facts
before the profession, that physicians may
tie prepared TO encounter this dread dis
ease atany time, and may thus avoid err
rors in diagnosis, which SO often lead to-
disastrous results.
although very mild cases, and those
modified by vaccination. are sometimes
difficult of diagnosis, yet the symptoms
are usually so clearly defined that mis-
takes should be rare and will almost
never occur if in a doubtful case the ply
stefan asks himself the question: Is this
a case of smallpox
The disease begins suddenly, usually
with a chill or chilliness nausea with or
without vomiting, intense headache, some
times perspiration, and generally On B.
Not always a pain in the back-'spine
ache that is unrelieved by any change
of position.
Before the characteristic eruption
there is frequently a general redness of
the skin that may be carelessly mistaken
for measles or scarlet fever. Keep in
mind the sudden and severe invasion. The
papules first appear on the face and
wrists, are here most abundant, and are
apt to come in groups, unlike any other
eruption. Injection of the conjunctivae,
and mild sore throat, with laryngeal in
Movement causing huskiness of voice are
quite common
IF called to a doubtful case, isolate at
once, and notify the Health Officer. Do
not wait four days. that the eruption may
decide the case. In the meantime,
number of other persons may become in
fected. Far better to isolate many cases
of chickenpoX than to allow exposure to
one case of smallpox Delay in diagnosis
is almost as disastrous as a mistake in
diagnosis, unless the patient be rigidly
isolated during the delay. Prompt isola-
ton, prompt diagnosis, prompt report of
cases, and prompt vaccination of all un-
protected persons who may have been ex-
posed. will render an epidemic of small
pox impossible.
Very respectfully,
- L. JEPSON, NJ. D,
Health Officer"