The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-02
WAR GOES MERELY ON
Doctors Cannot Yet Agree on
McLeod's Disease.
PATIENT AGAIN EXAMINED
DR.. Sheerar Appoints Another Commits
son-City Will No Longer Pay Half
of DR.. Sullivan's Salary-Dr.
Alexander Replies.

The controversy among the medical
men about the case of Walter Mcleod,
who either has or has not got varioloi6,
is growing interesting. and from action
taken yesterday is likely to become
more so before it is ended. The action
consisted of the city board of health
reporting a recommendation to the
council that the city refuse to longer
stand it's portion of DR.. Sullivans sal
airy as pest house physician, and of an
other commission making an examin-
alton of Mcleod. whose report partial
ly at least sustains DR.. Sullivan and to
that extent takes issue with the COM
mission which saw Mcleod Tuesday.
This places the matter inavery peculiar
situation, and what the end will be it
would be interesting to know.
BY direction of Mayor Mccarthy The
subject was called to the attention Of
the board of health at its meeting yes
terday, and upon the statement of the
position taken by the first commission
that saw Mcleod in pronouncing the
case one of varioloid, the board voted to
recommend to the council that the city
withdraw from it's agreement with the
county commissioners whereby the city
agreed to stand half of the salary of the
physician. The board then drew up and
signed the following communication to
the county commissioners:
ITO the County Commissioners of
Silver Bow County, Montana-Gentle-
men: In view Of the manner in which
the pest house is being conducted, as
reported by the commission appointed
yesterday to investigate. the case of
Walter Mcleod, consigned there at the
instance of the city health officers. the
city hereby notifies you that it will not
be liable for any part of any salary that
may be incurred on account of DR.. T.
j. Sullivan from this date.
Butte, November /, 1884,
During the time the board was in ses-
sion another commission of physicians
was examining Mcleod. DR.. Sullivan
asked that another commission be sent
out, and DR.. Sheeran invited Drs. Muir
ray, Donovan, Donnelly and Hammond
These gentlemen went out and made a
careful examination of Mcleod. and on
returning to the city made the follow
ing report:
Poor Farm, Nov. /. 1899, 4:3o p. m.
We, the undersigned have this day
carefully examined Walter Mcleod and
find nothing in his history or present
condition to justify an absolute diagno-
sis of varioloid. Meanwhile Mr. Mcleod
is being well cared for under circum-
stances which provide everything nee
essary for him and involVeSno expos
ure to any one else. We heartily COM
mend the course of DIR. Sullivan in
caring for him in such a way as not &c
expose him while there is any doubt
about the infectious character of his
complaint.
Mr.. Mcleod is living in the house
provided for DR.. Sullivan and with hin
and which is situated some distance
from the pest house proper.
at. J. MURRAY, NJ. D.
JOHN A. DONOVAN, NJ. D.
81. DONNELLY, NJ. D.
u. S. HAMMOND, NJ. D."
DR.. Alexander last evening prepared
the following statement of his posi-
ton in the controversy for publication
The position which DR.. Sullivan
physician at the pest house, has as
sumed and continues to maintain in
the case of one Walter Mcleod. con-
signed to the pest house at my in
stance last Friday morning, with a
diagnosis of varioloid, even after an
investigation by a commission of phys
icians eminently qualified and exper-
fenced to pronounce on the case, i'm
pels me to make few statements rel
alive to the manner in which the case
has been conducted and incidentally
to mention the facts bearing on several
other phases of the case.
"To substantiate what I say. I will
quote the following from DIR. William
Osler, professor of medicine in Johns
Hopkins university. and chief of the
Montreal general hospital during the
two awful epidemics which occurred
in that city from 1870 to 1875, and in
1885 and 1886, respectively, and who is
probably the most eminent authority
on smallpox in the United States to-
day He says: 'Varioloid-this term
is applied to the modified form of
smallpox, which affects persons who
have been vaccinated. 1t may set in