Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-13

Is serious. In addition to the small
pox he has trouble with his lungs Tha
is very often present in smallpox.
do not consider him yet out Of danger
u met the members Of tho incdiea
profession after had visited the pa.
TENTS ana advised three things: 1soIa.
tion. fumigatiom and vaccination.
think that every one should b. vaccl-
mated. l understand that. although
the vaccination has been very general
there are some people who have moi
yet taken advantage OF the emporium
ity offered by the health board.
think. too, that 1t would be IN excel
lent plan To close the schools during
the period OF incubation. That would
De about L. days. There are SO many
school children calling at the houses Of
the people where the disease is. ms Il
general thing. think that precauhon
should bc taken here.
Another thing, think that the pa :
ticnts should be moved to a. hospital.
Under the present arrangement where
the patients are quarantined In their
own houses some one will slip by the
guards for the guards are liable 10 he
unfaithful and there Is danger OF
spreading the disease, making it less
easy to stamp out the epidemic at once
There is no cause for alarm here.
With proper handling the disease can
be stamped out inside Of month
The doctor then went on to speak OF
some of his experiences with the dis
case. Il am not an expert as the
people here seem, TO think l am the
tet =.
probably seen 10000 cases during the
time I have been practicing. At one
time. in 1855 there were 3l45 cases, IN
the city in six months. In speaking OF
an other instance where he had been
called on to battle with the disease ne
said there were IA patients. These had
cost the city for general vaccination
and care Of the patients. $2S.O60.
DIR. L., G. Bunker. the secretary of
the board of health. when asked if the
board intended providing hospital for
the patients said that the board had
not vet decided. The matter has been
under consideration for some time.
Nothing has been decided yet
There have been many claims that
President Smith of the State board OF
health has not stated that there was
smallpox in the city. DIR. l.. G.
Bunker, in speaking of the matter. said
that 1t was requested that DR. Smith
would make no positive statements AS
soon as he had examined the patients
he came to the conclusion that 1t was
smallpox. At the request of DR. Bunk
er he agreed not TO make any positive
statement until DR.. Young had made
an examination. fearing that the city
might be injured.
Previous to this. DIR. f. G. Thayer, at
the request of DIR. J. l.. Fortier. made
an examination of Pomelcau and then
pronounced the disease smallpox. That
was Oil Tuesday. The following
Thursday evening. he stated to Jour-
nal reporter, that he knew. that there
was one case of smallpox in town. He
had seen that. or the other cases he
knew nothing. He had not seen them.
The news Of the report of DR. La
berSe created Il genuine rush for the
doctors offices. Saturday evening. by
l@Oplc who wished to be yaccinated.
The report was the one topic OF COM
vcrsation and many expressed the
opinion that no time should be lost in
providing smallpox hospital.
one new case was reported to the
board. Saturday. That was the case Of
Paul Moro on Ticonic street.
Before night had shut dawn. Sunday.
wo houses wcr: placed under quarantine
by the orders of The board of health thcs
opinion having been given that the pcp-
pie were afflicted with smallpox. The
lirst house was that at Us Main street
The man who runs a peanut stand on the
square. Mr.. Wedge was taken sick. n
week ago Saturday night. 1t was found.
sunday morning; that ne had the disease.
loor of his house The second case was |
hat Of Charles Butler at the Plains. He !
vas taken sick but II few days ago. The |
.apse Of the trouble. Sunday noon. and |
ordered the house. Quaislntined.
The school board decided. yesterday. |
rice of Dr. Labcrgc and an informal |
meeting was held. Chairman Brown saw
he other members of the board. Sunday,
md after talking the matter over 1t was
lecidcd to inform the teachers that as
loon as the schools had been called to or
lsr. in the morning. to have them dis
missed for an indefinite period. The
,oard Is doing this. not because 1t thinks
mere Is any danger. but simply as a pre-
autfOnary measure.
The board of health decided. Saturday
,,her. pfecaution against the spread of
he disease. sAt the conclusion 4tof< the
Meeting orders We're given to close the
'ublic library. Another measure was
aiken and that was to issue orders that
u the future no mail is to be accepted or
ent to the post Office from the quaran-
lQed houses.
The people. Yesterday. for the first time
eemed to be- alive to the gravity of the
The epidemic was the sole
opic Of conversation on the street. The
Let nc expense be spared 10 stamp out
ne epidemic In many cases there was
eedless alarm. Although the situation
no worse than ii was a week ago. yet
ne general opinion on the part of th0sej
no have not closely followed the mat
.r was that there was a wide breach be-
Neen the condition OF Saturday morning
nd Sunday night ~
There has been an opinion among
reat many that the quarantine has not
cen as strict as might have been.t A