The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-11-16
ABOUT THE SMALLPOX.
THE TOWN CLEARED OF ALL
CASES.
NOTHING TO FEAR.

/
The COMMONWEALTH has never made
any pretenslons to profound wisdom
prophetic forecasts or extraordinarily
wise utterances but it has all the while
claimed, and still claims, to tell the
truth. Last week we made a clear and
unvarnished statement about the small
pox situation in Scotland Neck, and in
the face of these clear and correct state
ments there have come wonderful raw
head and bloody bones tales from the
country around. 1t Is natural for peo-
pie to be afraid of smallpox, but it is
not good sense nor common human
sympathy to those who suffer the dis
advantage of it's presence to exaggerate
every statement and fan the flame of
every exciting rumor.
One week has elapsed since we wrote
about the situation before, and there
has been time for fairly good test of
the development of the disease and also
for the maturing of plans for stamping
it out.
The situatian at this writing, as We
have been able to learn 1t directly from
the health officers and those In charge
of the matter, is this:
As stated last week, the town COM
missioners passed law making vaccin-
alton compulsory for every person who
had not been successfully vaccinated
within twelve months. This law was
promptly obeyed by most of the peo-
pie, and where one resisted he was ar
rested and forced to be vaccinated.
Thus far only two persons have resist
ed. DR.. Wimberly has kept up vaccin-
alton all the while, together with those
whom he has called to his assistance,
until nearly all the people of the town
and community haye been yaccinated
of course except those who were vac
cinated last winter.
Promptly on the order of the town
commissioners pest house was built
on the site named last week and all the
colored cases from the town were carri-
ed to 1t and are there now in safe con-
fnement and for treatment. OF these
there were several, including those from
the town and the country.
A good house was secured a mile and
a half from town in which to place any
whites who might have the disease.
Two young men were suspected. They
were quarantined until it developed
that they had smallpox, and they were
securely wrapped, placed in convent
ent vehicle and carried at once to the
house secured for them, and are now
there being attended BY colored man
who had the smallpox years ago. Ev-
cry developed case has been moved out
OF town and every suspected case has
been guarded, until satisfactory devel-
opments as to whether or not it was
The people here are as anxious to
keep:out OF the small pox as any others,
and they have taken all precautions
against the spread Of the disease.
There have gone rumors to the coun-
try that the disease was in some of the |
largest stores here. That il altogether
untrue, and it is strange that eensible |
people would believe that snch thing |
would be allowed.
There ia no question that the disease |
which appeared here fifteen days ago |
was smallpox, and DR.. Green, who
came down from Weldon this morning |
aud visited the young men who are
Isolated out of town, brought very |
positive message from them to any who
still say it is not smallpox.
DR.. Green thinks the crisis Is past,
and with continued and vigorous Of
forts In q few days it will be stamped
out and business may move on as usual.
A CORRECTION.
A statement in this paper last week
did DR.. I. E. Green, OF Wei
lon, an injustice. We stated that
when smallpox first made it's appear
ance in the country DR.. Mcdowell, sus-
oecting it to be smallpox. sent for DR..