The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-13
Too Much Cuban ChickenpOx In
Topeka.
Only a Weak and Intellectual
Quarantine Maintained.
DOCTORS DISAGREE.
One Physician Says the Disease
Is Small POX.
At Least One Fatal Case Due
to Its Effect.

According to one Topeka physician
there is a case of smallpox in Topeka.
If he is correct in his diagnosis, this
city has had smallpox within it's limits
for the past two months and is now IN
the midst of an epidemic.
The case in question is that of Miss
Katie Brennan, who was taken i'll last
week at the home of Z. E. Hopkins, "a
Santa Fe shop man. at 413 Jefferson
street. The physician who pronounces
the disease smallpox is Dr.Samuel Ash
more of North Topeka.
DR.. Ashmore states that he has been
through two smallpox epidemics, and
has had the disease twice himself He
says the pustules that now cover the
face, limbs and body of Miss Brennan
are those of smallpox and nothing
milder
City Physician Peers saw Miss Bren-
nan today and says that if the case is
smallpox all the cases of sO-called Gu
BAN chickenpox that have come to his
notice within the past two months have
been smallpox also. There are now
about so cases quarantined by the card
system in this city, and it is estimated
that there are as many more that have
not been reported, and cards not dis
played in consequence.
DR.. Peers believes. however. that the
disease is not smallpox. He says he
has never seen q case of smallpox. but
the symptoms of the disease now pre-
vaIent in Topeka do not tally exactly
with symptoms of smallpox as set forth
in medical books.
on the other hand DR.. Ashmore be
lieVes so thoroughly that Miss Brennan
has smallpox and nothing else that he
offers to wager 800 in support of his
diagnosis.
Miss Brennan has been isolated in
one portion of the Hopkins home with
a nurse, and u Chicken POx' sign has
been displayed at the house Further
than this nothing more has been done
in the nature of a quarantine Mr..
Hopkins now boards and lodges away
from home.
The Brennan case is one of the most
severe that have come to the notice of
City Physician Peers. The most severe
case, that of a cOlored man living on
Central avenue just north Of Soldier
creek proved fatal about ten days ago.
Another serious case, a man named
Bradshaw at the Fourth avenue hotel,
has now reached the cOnValesceut
stage. The Bradshaw case was seen
by DR.. Geo. w. HOgebOOm. who has
had practical experience with smallpox
cases, and he pronounced it a milder
disease than smallpox. The symptoms
in the Brennan case are said to be no
more serious than in the Bradshaw
case.
The physicians of Topeka generally
are puzzled over the disease Some be-
lieve it to be a mild form Of smallpox
and others, among them City Physician
Peers, thinks it is a new disease. Prac-
lieve it to be chicken pOX.
Regardless of whether the disease is
true smallpox or not it is time that
the city board of health bestir itself
and take steps to stop it's further
spread. 1t has been proven by the death
of the colored man in North Topeka
that the disease is severe enough to
prove fatal, and this is sufficient to call
forth most stringent quarantine from
the health officers The rapid and con-
tinuOus spread of the disease shows it
to be decidedly contagious, and no ef-
forts should be spared to wipe it out
of the city.
Neglect in quarantining and report
ing cases has allowed it to become cpl
demic It is only within the last two
weeks that cards have been displayed
on houses where cases exist, and this
simple form Of quarantine has been re-
peatedly violated. Members Of the
families have gone from the sick room
to neighbOrs' houses and mingled with
persons on the streets. In this way the
disease has Travelled to all portions Of
the city.
If guards are necessary to enforce
quarantine, the board Of health should
provide them The disease may or may
that it is a contagious disease that has
proven itself fatal and no further
knowledge is necessary to demand the
most stringent measures 1T the city
health officers allow the disease to con-
| tinue to spread they viii be responsible
for criminal negligence.
It is true that the majority of the
cases have been mild in form, but at
| least one has been serious enough to
cause death and others might result
similarly. In families where physicians
can not rely on parents or relatives to
! observe a strict quarantine special Of
| ficers should be provided. The expense
| of maintaining a force of special pO-
| licemen for few weeks is nothing
compared to the hundreds of lives that
may be endangered if the disease is al
lowed to spread further.