Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-13
nmE Eos XAcclNAIiost.
Or. G. n. Randall Visits Watsriiie aad Con
suits With Health Officers and Physicians.

DIR. G. NJ. Randall, the health officer
of this CRY, after a consultation with
some Of the municipal officers, went to
Waterville. Sunday. to personally see
what steps were being taken there for
the prevention of the spread Of the
smallpox epidemic and the type Of the
disease. He further wished to learn
all he could of the treatment the Wa
terville doctors are giving their pa
tients as help should the epidemic
break out in this city.
For several days the authorities have
had under advisement the idea of vac
| cinating the employees at the Edwards
| Cos. cotton mill. DIR. Randall had a
talk with Agent Cole and as a result
| of that talk the trip to Waterville was
| 'hastened. In this connection the doc
| tor wished to see II the epidemic in
Waterville and 'Winslow was OF such a
/ serious nature that it's spread to this
city and adjoining towns could not be
prevented. If such was found to be the
case the board of health would order
compulsory vaccination of all the peo-
pie in the city as well as the employees
of the cotton mill.
Randall was seen by the Journal and
spoke as follows:
There is no longer any doubt in the
minds of the medical profession or citi-
zens of Waterville as to the character
of the contagion present there. When
the disease first occurred DR.. Thayer
and DIR. Bunker considered it smallpox.
A few days later their view was con-
firmed by the president and secretary
of the State Board of Health. but there
was a. difference of opinion in the
minds of some of the physicians of
Waterville.
Consultation with a recognized ex-
pert was deemed expedient and DR.
Louis Laberge of Montreal, who has
for many years been health officer OF
that city, was sent for. He has man.
aged many epidemics of smallpox in
Canada and is perfectly familiar with
the characteristics of the disease. DR..
Laberge unqualifiedly confirms the
diagnosis of smallpox as first made by
the Waterville Board of Health
THE only difference of opinion has
been in the minds of the uniformed.
DIR. Laberge urges the continuance of
the efficient quarantine and restriction
of public gatherings already establish
ed. He urges universal vaccination
and the closing of public schools and
the placing of all patients afflicted in
hospital and the isolation of all sus-
poets. No person is allowed to enter
on any account or leave the infected
district without a clean bill of health
signed by the health officer.
1.-The source of contagion is not
known. 1t might have come from the
South where it was epidemic. last
spring. and is still epidemic in Ala
bama and Pennsylvania. or il might
have come from Canada where it is
epidemic. The contagion is very in
sidious and hard to trace. Fortunately
the present epidemic is mild. but pre-
senting all the characters of the dis
ease. There are all varieties. diserete
and continent. temperatures varying
from 101 to 1915. No fatal eases have
occurred.
There are at present IA houses
quarantined in Waterville. each con-
tanning one or more cases and there
We're two new ones, Sunday. Winslow
has about 40 cases. one new one, Sun
day. One case was reported late in
the evening as having fatal tend
ency.'
1.-The local board of health will be in
session at the Edwards Cos. mill to-
day from to II and l to o'clock for
free vaccination. The board while not
feeling it necessary, at the present
stage. to order compulsory vaccination,
advice everybody to do so in case the
disease should spread to this city,