Evening journal., 1900-01-22
SMALLPOX IS
ON THE INCREASE
So Far as Reported, Those
Affected Have Disease in
a Light Form.
PEST HOUSE IS CROWDED

PEST HOUSE IS CROWDED
tiE
AND BOARD OF HEALTH WILL
ASK COUNCIL FOR HELP FOR
THE NORTHUMBERLAND CASE
OF RosANNA TAYLOR.
! On Saturday afternoon Drs. John p. and
Joseph Wales visited Rosanna Taylor,
at No. 1882 Orange street. and pro-
nounced her III with smallpox. though
in a mild form. Secretary Wiggles
worth, of the Board of Health. at once
quarantined the house to prevent any
spread Of the disease should it prove to
be the dread malady, and upon learn
ing from Dr. Wales that the woman
was really attacked with smallpox, he
nailed the yellow flag to the door.
AS soon as DR.. ]. p. Wales had
! diagnosed the case he instructed his
son. DR.. Joseph Wales to request Mr..
/ Wigglesworth to have a city vaccine
physician call at the house and
vaccinate the other members of Mrs.
Taylors family, Of whom there are five.
This request was complied with on the
part of Mr.. Wigglesworth.
4 DR.. ID. l. McColley, who was attend
ing physician upon the Taylor family
before the disease appeared in the
house, has requested that a
) competent physician be engaged to
look after the Taylor woman and see
that she had the necessary attendance,
stating that he would pay all expenses
p incurred.
., Dr. Wales has taken the matter in
hand and a physician will be called to
attend the woman today and render all
, medical attendance possible. Mrs. Nc
Colley, who is suffering with a mild
attack Of smallpox is reported as
/ greatly improved.
OTHER CASES REPORTED.
It was reported Saturday that two
more cases Of smallpox had been To-
icated, one in the vicinity Of Ninth and
Franklin and another near Third and
Monroe streets. Inquiry at the Board
Of Health office disclosed the fact that
they had not been reported.
Secretary Joseph Wigglesworth, OF
{ the Board ofHealth, is in a dilemma as
the pest house at FaTnhurst is full and
: there is no other place to treat the
a sufferers. Aside from this, the poor
T. as In the case OF ROsanna Taylor
, are in danger Of starving in their
u homes. which they are not permitted
to leave for an instant.
+ Mr.. Wigglesworth would gladly pro-
J. vide for them. but the board has Meth
er money nor authority to do so and
an appropriation will undoubtedly be
asked from City Council. with which
to procure for the unfortunates the
= necessities Of life. The board will also
e ask Council to provide a hospital, that
/, the patients may be more properly
d cared for. than at their homes.
t Not only do these difficulties pre-
, sent themselves, but another startling
l. fact is manifested in the lack Of ply
= sicians who are willing to treat small.
d lpox patients. Nearly all of them are
h lafraid to take the cases, as the proceed
4 ing would Interfere materially with
II their regular practice. The beard viii
l. lendeavOr to secure the services of &
physician, who for a liberal considera.
ltion, would devote his whole time tC
the treatment of such cases.
2 Wilmington has had two sieges o
\. smallpox. end another IS now imm
I. nent The first was just twenty-eigh
Is years ago, in the Winter OF 1872 al
this time there were hundreds of case
" in the city. and yellow flags were seeI
(. flying at short intervals. The next wa
I Gin 1887 but this time the epidemic wal
stamped out before it gained anything
like the headway of its predecessor.
In 1872 the first pest house was 10
= Gated at Fourth and BrOome streets
~ and patients were taken there daily
~ Others died as fast, else there wcull
III not have been room for new patients.
le Many people contract the diseas
o. without knowing it, as the symptom
d are much like those Of grip. The per
Is sen taking the malady is first seize
with q soreness and stiffness in tn
limbs and throughout the body.
dizziness in the head and sick stomac
no follow shortly, and, lastly, the ras
ng breaks out.
1t. The rash in a short time develop
IS into the boil-like eruptions. which,
ell they swell and break, insure the pa
rs. tients recovery. If they swell and the
reeede the poison is driven into tn
body, causing death.
The disease is not contagious unit
ne these eruptions break, and as the
e. throw off the poison, anyone comm
in in contact with the sufferer is likely
ne contract the disease.