Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-24
SMALLPOX SITUATION
Mayor Of Storm Lake Writes Let.
ter Detailing Efforts to Sup
press Plague.
All Necessary Precautionary Meas.
ures Taken and Further Spread
Not Probable.
Cases, However, Are Quite Numer-
Gus, But Not of Virulent
Character.

Des Moines, Nov 24.-The state board
of health yesterday received from May
or Chapman of Storm Lake q letter
setting forth the situation of the small
poX outbreak in Buena Vista county,,
and detailing the work that has been
done to prevent further spread of the
disease. All the information, however,
indicates that the disease is spreading
despite all precautionary efforts DR..
r. E. Commit of Sioux City, member of
the board of health, was sent to take
personal charge of the quarantine ar
rangements. Yesterday he wired the.
secretary from Storm Lake that one
case of smallpox had appeared at Mar
athon, and one at Linn Grove.
Mayor Chapmans letter to Secretary
Kennedy follows:
Storm Lake, Nov. %, 1851. F.
Kennedy, Des Moines, Ia: At the time
DR.. johnson and myself wrote you the
joint letter there had not appeared a
single case of smallpox in the entire
community. The camps that We're
quarantined We're those of the Illinois
Central railroad, where we We're led to
believe the patient referred to from
Chicago left. Not a single case devel-
oped nor was there a single person in
either of the TWO camps sick with any
complaint, and that joint letter was a
truthful statement to you of the exist
ing circumstances at the time. The fol-
lowing day the first case developed
and the disease undoubtedly originated
among the camps on the NJ. & St L..
and every case that has developed since
has been traced to that line.
',All the cases are pronounced of a
mild type and those who have smallpox
have either not been vaccinated, or if
so the former vaccination had ceased
to be effective. Every person sick has
been vaccinated and every inmate of
the quarrantined houses has been vac
cinated and almost every other person
in the town.
The case referred TO by you at Sioux
Rapids. as am Informed, was an eld-
erly lady. who had lately returned from
the old country, and whether vaccinat-
ed or not ! can not say.
I'VE are exercising the most rigid
preventative measures and propose TO
see that everything is done to prevent
the spread of the disease and also that
no violation of the quarantine is per-
nitted to the extent if necessary of
placing shot guns in the hands Of the
officers. If ii becomes necessary TO es-
tablish a shot gun quarantine it will be
established. We know the law here and
| propose 10 abide by it and enforce il
and this You can rely upon.
"Our hospital is finished and every
patient Will be properly provided for by
l6 o,clock tonight. 1t is built upon sci
entific lines and the sanitary arrange
merits and ventilatfons are pronounced
| first class by all physicians who have
examined it.
..Gherokee has made no complaint te
the health department at Storm Lake
! and DR.. Hornibrook, who has beer
called in consultation with the board
/ claims that Cherokee has no reason to
complain and in correction with loea
I Health officer DIR. stevens, We are fol
lowing the advice of DR.. Hornibroot
and our local physicians.
DIR. johnson. referred to in your let
1 ter died Monday afternoon from the ef
fects Of wood alcohol, claimed TO haV'
been taken by mistake. An patients
/ were examined yesterday by Drs. Ste
! evns and Horniprook and reported a
/ getting along nicely. | will keep yo'
posted in regard to the situation and il
4 case of complaints VIII report promptly
There is one case in Providence town
ship, just north of sulphur Springs blu
/ have heard of none at Marathon. Yer,
respectfully