Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-07
1T is SPREADING.
Smallpox Is Increasing in
Watervi|Ie and WinsIow..
Said that There Are Now 20 and Per-
haps 80 Cases.
Auburn Also Has Case Reported, BROUGHT
Over from Waterville.

think the time has gone by when
this matter should be hushed up" said
DIR. NJ. w. Bessey, yesterday morning,
when speaking of the small pox in this
city and in Winslow. There is now
no question that we have small pox
with us and the public ought to know
it.. He then went on to say that there
are to his knowledge 20 cases of the
disease in Winslow. About this there
is not the slightest question. There
may be more; possibly 80 cases. OF
the latter 10 cases DR.. Bessey was not
quite positive.
In this city at noon, yesterday, it
was impossible to say whether or not
there are any more cases. Seven cases;
have been reported to the board Of
health, which were not investigated, up
to noon, on account of the manner in
which the board was rushed. DR..
Bunker was not able to report positive
ly, yesterday. that there were any new
cases, but he said he should look into
the matter and determine whether ornot
there were. The new cases were
among families on the Plains, if the
suspected cases are small poX. The
board of health began tour Of inves-
tisation, in the afternoon. looking the
patients over very carefully, that there
might be no mistake about the diagno-
sis.
In Winslow all the cases are confined
in the vicinity of Sand hill. There the
houses are under the Strictest Quaran-
tine. The board of health in that
place have employed DR.. NJ. +. Bessey
to look after their interests in the mat
ter and through his orders the patients
are under the strctest quarantine. In
order to see how effectual the luaran-
tine is he called at the houses. Sunday
night, and tried to force an entrance.
The people in the houses did not know
who he was and when he tried to eff
feet an entrance was pushed forcibly
back. being told that he could not en-
ter, as the houses contained small poX
patients. A man has been employed
by the people in that town who pre-
vents any one either going in or COM
ing out. There are q good many peo-
pie in that town as in this city who do
not believe there is any small poN in
either place.
In the mills the utmost precautions
are being taken. Every person who is
suspected of having been in any way
exposed to the disease is sent out of
the mills al once. Friday, several were
sent out, and, Saturday, still moro we're
forced TO leave their work. DR.. Bunk
er, in speaking of the trouble, said h
could not yet tell how far the employees
had been exposed. 1t is yet little
early to make any talk on that matter.
If in the course of a week or 50 there
are no cases reported it will be known
that the worst is over.
Among the students at the evening
school there is something of Il fright
and several of the students have noti-
fled the instructors that they shout |
not attend until the scare was over
For that reason it has been found adj
visable to close the school for Il Week
when, it is thought, it can be deter
mined whether or not there will be any
new cases.
The board of health has already talk
ed over plans for "a pest house in case
it is needed. 1t is not thought, how
ever, that it will dc needed. but it is
one of those steps the board has taken
" Dc Iedus lOI tiIdl mag
turn up. The number of virus points
in the city was. up to yesterday noon,
rather small. The drain on them by
the calls for vaccination, Sunday, had
left decided vacancy The work Of
vaccinatinS the Colby students has al
ready commenced. 1t was planned,
yesterday. to begin vaccinating some
of the children in the public schools,
but the non-arrival of the virus delay
cd matters.
Nome of the doctors seem to think
that there is cause for great alarm.
The board of health is doing everything
in it's power for the safety of the peo-
pleand is seeing that every order which
has been given is being strictly car
ried out.
Thf. only new move made during the
duy by the board of health was to quar-
antinc two houses and place "a Waterman
al each house. The former action was
the result of the investigation on the re-
Mort of one of the physicians that there
were evidences of contagious disease on
the Plains. ,,
health was that there were seven cases
in that section DIR. l.. G.. Bunker. the
secretary of the board of health, IN LOOK
ing into the matter. deemed 1T advisaDle
10 u1lara nit inc two houses. one on Moore
and the other on Cary street. DR.. Bunker
was not positive that these were cases
of smallpox. He had the houses Quaran-
tined. that there might be no chances
taken. l., .,o ,oox, or
haaitb was to have officers stationed at
each house. In speaking of TINS matter.
mr. bunker said that there had been d
grer,t rrany complaints made to him tina;
tho hollses were not properly quaran-
,inad He accordingly went 70 City Mar
shai Call and through his orders an Off
oar has been stationed at each house.
NJ new developments were reportel
f-",n Winslow. during the evening. Or.
HI Z, Resspy. the health offloer for thu
.a,,,n is doing everything in his power
NV TIC towms safety. 1T has turned cut
~ ~, The eases are not all confined to the
. .iiea ~ known as Sand Hin. There are
savaral cases in houses along the river
pa LIN ao+;on of the board of health in
a nv officers at the houses under quar-
piaI:.e ;r being generally commended.
G aal.in nan who was in the journal office,
O a, o ,.t, said that while he was at the
Ses' 81 ,,cas de Sales church. Sunday. A
D. srny,, one of the houses known to be
man - oo,,,,.srantine came into the church
u i,no isO0 people were assembled and
W.T. nart in the service.
io Ua p Of fine public school teachers tells
one ~ mat a little girl from another
the SUI o,Iso known TO be under quarantine