The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-13
Santuc, s. c., April 8, 1900.
Small POx in Union.

caused in town by Mr.. Robt. Workman
breaking out with small pox at the Whit
lock house.
He was on the works of the Union and
Glenn Springs road with Mr.. A. r..
Eskridge's force. He was taken sick at
the camps, sent to Miller's stables for a
buggy and was brought to his room at
the Whitlock house DR.. Hamilton was
called to see him and as he had every
symtom of the Grippe, the Doctor began
the treatment accordingly. The next
morning the Doctor noticed three
pimples on his face, and suspiciJned
small pox. He asked the patient if he
had come in contact with any Of the
hands on the works who rumor said had
small pox. He said he had, and DR..
Hamilton Immediately summoned Drs.
Terrence and Goi.g of the Board of
Health and the three agreed that it was
case of small pox, and quarantine was
set up, as considerable talk has arsin as
to why this man was brought into town
from camp infested with small pox, we
| have endeavored to make an investiga-
ton. We find that the report had been
circulated in town for week or more
that breaking out of disease which
was called by somL small pox and by
others chicken pox had occurred at Mr..
Eskridge's camps, but that no steps had
been taken to quarantine the camp, and
the patients and all others Of the camp
were allowed to go and come at their
pleasure, to town or anywhere else they
| saw fit.
1t seems to be the general sentiment
of the community that it was great
oversight on the part of somebody, that
the matter was not looked into when
the report was first circulated. and Il
quarantine established against the camp,
80 as to prevent those who were afflicted
and those who were associated with them,
from circulating promiscuou,ly about
the community and the town. We do
not set ourselves up to say who is response
BILE for this state of affairs, but as The
disease has been in existence for month
or more and a number of negroes have
had it and number of them still have it,
and that in very bad form, according
to DIR. Smiths statement, their faces
has the appearance of having been scared
with hot iron, it strikes us as rather
late in the day to get frightened. 1t re-
minds us OF the party who neglected to
close the stable door until after the horse
had been stolen. There is no telling
1
going among our citizens without him
drance. DR.. Smith is of the opinion that
the disease will be apt to spread in the
town. 1t seems this state OF affairs
could have been prevented by prompt
steps having been taken i'll the early
stage of the game.
DR.. j. &. Going, the small pox physi-
clan for Union county states that he was
made cogniZant of the existence of small
poX at the camp a week prior to the
bringing Of Workman 10 Union, by the
matter having been reported to him by
| DR.. Pool, who had been called aud dis
covered that it was small poX and report
ed the matter TO him upon his return 10
town. DIR. Going then accompanied DIR.
| Pool to the Cases, and found it was small
pOX but the cases were cOnvaleScent, and
| no quarantine was established. He re-
pOrlef. the matter to DR.. Evans OF the
State Board and ordered vaccine points,
| being entirely out, lie vas not cOgni-
Zant of any new cases until the time that
he with Drs. Torrence and Hamilton
made the examination OF Workman.
lie says DIR. Austell had been practicing
on the cases prior to the calling OF DIR.
J Pool, but had not reported the matter
| Dr.. Going has since received vaccine
points and gone to the camp and vacci-
mated the parties there, who We're not
already Vaccinated.
Df. Hamilton states that he was ac-
costed on the streets some time ago by
Mr.. ESkridge who tod him there was /,
disease in his camp causing breaking
out that he did not know whittier it was
small poX or chicken pOX, and asked his
opinion. DR.. Hamilton told him if the
scars pitted 1t was small pox, but Jher.
was several kinds of disease which caused
these pimples or bolls, chicken pox ano
iInpetIgo among the number. That there
had been several cases o. impetigo ia
town, lie was not called to the camI
and could not speak from personal obser.
yation,
Mr.. a. II. Eskridge states that he
has been of the opinion all the time that
lit was chicken pOX. That two of hi,
men, who had bten sleeping in the tent
with him had the disease, both OF whom
had been sent home, TO other counties
and one OF them at least had given it Il
hiS family ut home, the Doctors at botl
places prOuOunc!ng it chicken pOX. but
not being quite satisfied had asked Dr..
Hamilton and he virtually corroborates
DIR. IamiltOn'S statement. lie says lha,
the disease had been in existence il
that section before he came here, anC
that no quarantine had been ordered anC
10 excitement had been caused by it,
that several negroes had been afflicted
at Il negroes house, Preacher Pruitl, anC
had been attended by Il physician, {
week before Workman was brought in
, and none of these negroes haI beeI
quarantined. He does not think he is [,
blame as he had no control over Mr.
Workman, who came to town in bug
gy that le had ordered, and says i5 j
strange that 10 quarantine was establish
ed If 1t WAS known that the disease VA