Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-02-21
SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC.
THOUSANDS OF CASES IN MANY
STATES.
Greater Number in Middle Western
and Southern States Fortunately the
Percentage of Deaths Is Small Heaitii
Boards Taking Every Precaution.

From almost all sections OF the coun-
try, but particularly from the Middle
Western and Southern States, come re-
ports that smallpox is epidemic. ihe DIS
ease manifests some peculiar features,
too for it is much less virulcnt than
usual, and in many cases delay IN COM
batting it has resulted from lis being at
first taken for chickenpox. While there
are many cases-in Caldwell County, NY,
ii is estimated that half the residents are
suffering from it-theTe are few deaths,
The epidemic seems to avoid tile large
cities, and, passing over the centers OF
population, TO strike into small country
towns and villages. Chicago, for instance,
has had fewer than dozen cases this
year, but at least 700 have been reported
throughout southern Illinois, Of which
only four have resulted fatally.
A generally accented theory is that the
disease has been brought frc.a Cuba,
Porto Rico aad the Philippines By re-
turning soldiers.
Much alarm now prevails in the infect
ed districts, where at first the warnings
of the physicians who recognized the
symptoms were scoffed al. Commercial
travellers find great difficulty in getting
about through some rural communities
owing TO local quarantine regulations,
schools are closed, and at points along the
Canadian frontier mails have been de-
layed through controversies between the
Canadian and United States postal au-
thorities as to which suall undertake the
fumigation of the mail sacks.
80 ha fha
sufferer. In that State thirty-hve coun-
ties are affected, and dozen county
boards of health have resigned because
they have no money with which to night
the plague. There is more smallpox IN
Princeton than elsewhere, and Paducah
comes next. DIR. ]. \. Mccormick OF
the State Board of Health has contribute
ed $500 out of his own pocket with
which to fight the disease.
Thousands of Cases.
DR.. j. n. Hurty Of the Indiana State
Board of Health, in a warning to th'
public, reports that there are between
1900 and 1900 cases in the State of In
diana, and that the disease is epidemic II
four counties. Five cases have developed
among the students at the Indiana Uni
versity at Bloomington.
Before the Mississippi State Legisla
ture at Jackson, Secretary Hunter O
the State Board of Health, in arguing
for a measure to establish compulsory
vaccination, said there had been l30 cases
of smallpox in that city since last Sep
tember. and 1900 cases and severa
deaths throughout the State in the sam'
period.
birmingham, Scottsboro and Courtland
Ala, report much smallpox in the sur
rounding countryside, aud in Chattanoo
ga, Tenn, thirteen how eases recent.
appeared in q single day. Spokane
Wash, last week reported thirty-nin
cases, but all recovering. Kansas ha
established a rigid quarantine agains
several counties in Oklahoma Territory
and guards have been stationed along tn
| State line. Trains to Woodward, Okla.
| have recently been abandoned on accoun
| of the infection. Smallpox exists in near
| ly every town of the Cherokee Nation il
| Indian Territory, and the Cherokee Ma
| tional Board has issued a proclamation
urging compulsory vaccination upon all.
| The disease seems to be spreading il
| Colorado. Michigan, Minnesota am
| South Dakota, however, are almost fre
| from it. A few isolated cases have ap
peared in Massachusetts, but there tn
| disease appears to be we'll under control
| Citizens of Pine Bluff, Ark, have organ
lied to fight their Mayors proclamation
ordering cor 'pulsory vaccination, Will
| from Savannah, Ga, an appeal has beel
made 20 Surgeon General Wyman to hav
the Marine Hospital Service take charg
| of the situation in Georgia.