Amador ledger., 1900-08-03
OUR PRESENT CONDITION.
Cases Of Smallpox Rapidly Decreasing and
Patients Convalesceut.


Amador county has suffered severely
from the many rumors and malicious
articles which have been published by
certain of our contemporaries, in which
Jackson is imposed upon.
In regards to the quarantine meas.
ures that have been taken here, every.
thing possible has been done to check
the spreading OF smallpox. Not only
have the health officer and the other
physicians and authorities done much
to stamp out the disease, but the peo.
pie have made unusual efforts toward
that end. DR.. H. II. Look, a repre-
sentative of the State Board OF Health,
and one of the ablest experts in the
State on smallpox, said that although
under great difficulties Jackson has
sustained the best quarantine measures
he has ever been called to investigate.
1t Is not right and it shows ignorance
to criticise the actions OF the authori.
ties, when we know from personal OBJ.
servation that everything possible has
been done, and done promptly. When
threatened with a severe epidemic the
State Board of Health was notified, and
that body was asked to assist us, which
they did. The disease has been we'll in
hand since first discovered and most of
the new cases have been in houses
that are quarantined. Nurses were
scarce and relatives were compelled to
wait on the sick ones, thus bringing
the whole family in contact with the
disease, consequently there has been
several cases in one family in number
of instances.
All of last week there was but one
new case of smallpox reported. There
has been but two deaths, one of which
was indirect, there being a complica-
tion of diseases, and the other was
caused by the patient encountering a
draught.
The recently issued circulars give
evidence as to the interest taken in the
work by the authorities, and shows
that they are making strenuous efforts
for the determination OF the disease,
If the citizens of our town consider
these warnings useless, and do not heed
the advice that has been offered, what,
then, can be done? Can our Health
Officer or authorities be condemned for
the inactivity of the people, and the
disinclination of our citizens to take
advantage of these simple precautions,
when it may possibly be matter of
life or death? No action is taken by
our authorities that is not sanctioned
by the leading citizens of the commun-
ity. People who have, or who are
even suspected of having come in con.
tact with smallpox have not been out
of town unless the necessary precau-
tlons have been taken.
Are not the people entitled to know
the truth OF the matter''P Indeed,
they are. The various towns of this
county have been informed of the state
OF affairs in Jackson by the proper au-
thorities, and in every instance their
word has been doubted. This is wrong,
The authorities are sworn to truthful.
ness and faithfulness in their official
capacity, and have given out any infor.
nation that has been asked for. For
the benefit of those who are in doubt.
an invitation has been extended to any
reputable citizen or physician In the
county to come to Jackson and he
would be shown every case we have,
but no one has taken advantage of It.
not even the physicians of our neirh.
boring towns.
Jackson has not Imposed upon the
remainder OF the county" Is 1t any
worse for the vehicles of our business
men, or families, who have resided In
Jackson, and after the advice of the
Health Officer has been solicited, and
those parties have been declared free
from contagion, to leave our town,
than for parties from the towns to
come to jackson for few hours, min
gle with our people and return. Every
day since the breaking out of the
smallpox we have been visited by peo-
pie from our neighboring towns. This
is not weli-selected time for stirring
up of the rivalry between our towns,
and only makes bad matter worse.
During the past week only two new
cases of smallpox has been found in
Jackson and all of the patients are Inn
proving. The houses that have been
infested with the disease are being
fumigated and the occupants are being
released upon the expiration of the
time of quarantine, The Health OFF,
Ger reports everything in very favor
able condition, and in few weeks the
epidemic will be completely stamped
out,
A Message Of Coincidence
A meeting of prominent born Italians
was held in Hon. D. B. Spagnoli's law
Offices Wednesday afternoon for the
OF adopting resolutions express
Ing their sincere sympathy for the
L.