Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-02-23
SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC.
THOUSANDS OF CASES IN MANY
STATES.
Greater Number In Middle Western
and Southern states-FortunateIy tho
PercentaxeofDeath Is small-Hcaith
Boards Taking Every Precaution.

From almost all sections Of b coyia-
try, but particularly from the Middle
Western and Southern States, come re-
ports that smallpox is epidemic. The dis
ease manifests ONE peculiar features.
too, for it is much less virulent thar
usual, and in many cases delay i'll com
batting it has resulted from its being as
first taken for chickenpoH. While there
are many ases-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 county
towns and villages. Chicago, for instance.
has had fewer than a dozen cases this
year, but Mt least 100 have been reported
throughout southern Illinois, Of which
only four have resulted fatally.
a generally accepted theory III thai the
disease has been brought from Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines ny ~
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 Mt. Commercial
travellers find great difficulty in getting
about through some rural communii.os
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-ave couN-
ties are affected, and Il dozen county
boards Of health have resigned because
they have no money with which to tisac
the plague. There is more smallpox IL
Princeton than elsewhere, and Paducsa-
comes next. DIR. ]. n. Mccormick o.
the State Board of Health has contribut-
ed $500 out Of his own pocket with
which to fight the disease.
Thousands of Cases.
DIR. j. N. Hurry of the Indiana State
Board of Health, in a warning to tho
public, reports that there are between
1900 and 1900 cases in the State Of In
diana, and that the disease is epidemic in
four counties. Five cases have dcvelopcd
among the students ut the Indiana Uni
versity at Bloomington.
Before the Mississippi State Lcgisla-
ture at jackson, Secretary Hunter OF
the State Board Of Health, in arguing
for a measure to establish compulsory
vaccination, said there had been $50 cases
Of smallpox in that city since last Sep
TENDER, 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 Chattanot-
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
nj the infection. Smallpox exists In nenr-
iy every town of the Cherokee Nation in
Indian Territory, and the Cherokee Ma
tional Board has issued a proclamation
urging compulsory vaccination upon all.
Thc disease seems to be spreading In
Colorado. Michigan, Minnesota and
South Dakota, however, are almost free
from it. A few isolated cases have ap-
peared in Massachusetts, but there tbs
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.