The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-01-25
Sumtel's Smallpox Scare.
What a Resident of the Sec
ton Says About the Boards
Methods.

ton Says About the Boards
Methods.
To the Editor of The State
/ have just read an article in your
issue of fine 18th headed epidemic
Under Control-Snallpox in Sumter
County Virtually Ended" in which
it is stated that DR. Jas Evans "was
here yesterday with reference to the
passage of the joint resolution to ap-
propriate $2,500 as an emergency
fund to be used in supporessing the
smallpox epidemic in Sumter coun-
ty The article says Dr.. Evans
wants to burn infected houses, cloth
ing and ether articles. which step is
considered by Dr. Evans, the gov
ernor or the writer of the article in
question, every necessary to pre-
vent further spread of the disease,
etc notwithstanding "the situation
Dr. Evans now regards as under
control IS every one who has not
had the disease has been vaccinated
and no new cases are likely to be
developed /" The balance of the
paragraph. of which the above quo
tation is the frst sentence, and the
third paragraph of che article. give
| condensed history of the epidemic
and what is being done to suppress
it, closing with the sentence 'etbe
people have been vaccinated almost
| entirely and the epidemic is under
control"
Now, / submit, MIR. Editor, the
following propositions for the careful
consideration Of the general assem-
bly,:
First. If the smallpox is under
control and no new cases likely to be
developed what is the use to burn
infected houses and clothes
Second If Dr. Bacot and Mr.
Reardon in about 10 days. time have
gained control of the epidemic. what
is S2.5G0 emergency appropriation
asked for to suppress "the smallpox
epidemic in Sumter county 2" Dr..
Bacot and Mr. Reardon certainly
have not done ST. 500 worth OF work
in 10 days; no, not even $500 worth
of work, nor even $50 worth of work
if the entire suppression of the dis
ease in the quickest time and at the
least cost is the object of their mis-
sion
One place DR. Evans is made to
say "eyery one who has not had the
disease has been vsccinated," and
further on 1.-The people have been
vaccinated almost entirely" To my
personal knowledge it is a great
mistake to say talmost entirely "
From what / can learn from reliable
persons / seriously doubt if one half
of the people 10 the district named.
l3 by Ia miles on each side of Black
river, have been vaccinated ] do
know that at one house visited by
Bacos and Mr.. Reardon the head of
the house and her eldest son ran
away and were not vaccinated when
two of the children had the 80 called
smallpox at the time. DR.. Bacot and
Mr.. Reardon have not made any
attempt at systematic vaccination
So far as / can learn they have not
called on the owners of any planta
ton for information that would en-.
able them to make systematic and
thorough vaccination of all the peo-
pie They visited the Goodwill
colored school and I am informed
vaccinated 12o that day Further
than that they seem to have been
satisfied with vaccinating such ne
groes as they could persuade to
permit it
1t appears to me and others in this
community with whom I have talked
wholly unnecessary for the State
board of health to send Dr.. Bacot
and Mr.. Reardon here at all IfDr
King and Dr.. McCuschen had been
given the authority and supplied
with the points when the State board
was first notified they could have
stamped out the disease (if vaccinat
ing will do it) and no 'scare" would
ever have originated. And it would
have been done at much less cost to
the State than the present arrange
ment.
On the other hand. if this is the
best way TO handle the disease, /
would like TO see such work as will
be effective l objcs to being taxed
to pay for such work as has been
done. No business house iu the
State would pay for such work. If