Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-02-20
SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC.
THOUSANDS OF CASES IN MANY
STATES.
Greater Number in Middle Western
and Southern States Fortunately the
Percentage of De.. lis Is Small Health
Boards Taking EvSgy 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 The dis
ease manifests some peculiar features,
too, for it is much less virulent than
usual, and in many cases delay IN COM
batting it has resulted from its being at
first taken for chickenpoN. While there
are many cases-in Caldwell County, Ky,
it is estimated that half the residents are
suffering from it-there are few deaths.
The epidemic seems to avoid the 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 accepted theory is that the
disease has been brought from Cuba,
Porto Rico and 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 We're scoffed at. 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 shall undertake the
fumigation of the mail sacks.
kentucky seems to be the principal
sufferer In that State thirty-fve coun-
ties are affected, and a dozen county
boards of health have resigned because
they have no money with which to hight
the plague There is more smallpox in
Princeton than elsewhere, and Paducah
comes next DIR. J. n. Mccormick OF
the State Board of Health has contribut-
ed $1,000 out of his own pocket with
which to fight the disease.
Thousands of Cases.
DR.. J. n. Hurry Of the Indiana State
Board of Health, in a warning to the
public, reports that there are between
1000 and 1900 cases in the State of In
diana, and that the disease is epidemic IN
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 of
the State Board of Health, in arguing
for a measure to establish compulsory
vaccination, said there had been 100 cases
of smallpox in that city since last Sep
tember and 1000 cases and several
| deaths throughout the State in the same
period.
Birmingham, Scottsboro and CORTLAND,
Ala. report much smallpox in the sur
rounding countryside, and in Chattanoo-
ga. Tenn, thirteen new cases recently
appeared in a single day. Spokane,
Wash, last week reported thirty-nine
cases, but all recovering. Kansas has
established a rigid quarantine against
several counties in Oklahoma Territory,
and guards have been stationed along the
State line. Trains to Woodward, Okla,
have recently been abandoned on account
of the infection. Smallpox exists in near
| ly every town of the Cherokee Nation in
| Indian Territory, and the Cherokee Ma
tional Board has issued proclamation
urging compulsory vaccination upon all.
The disease seems to be spreading in
! Colorado. Michigan, Minnesota and
| South Dakota, however, are almost free
from it. A few isolated cases have APP
peared in Massachusetts. but there the
disease appears to be well under control.
| Citizens of Pine Bluff, Ark, have organ
lied to fight their Mayors proclamation
ordering compulsory vaccination, while
| from Savannah, Ga, an appeal has been
made to Surgeon General Wyman to have
the Marine Hospital Service take charge
| of the situation in Georgia.