The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-16

SMALLPOXlAT CHAPEL HILL. Is
One OF h Students Contracts h Dis
EeaseWhile at Home-Statements from
OPresident Alderman and DR.. Lewis.
fspecaal to The Messenger.l

tSDecl1I 10 Inc AeSSeHScT-D
Chapel Hill, N. c., January 12.-Mr.
]. r. Paddison, of Mt Airy, a medical
student at the university, has developed
a definite case of smallpox. He was
unvaccinated and contracted the dis
ease in Mount Airy during a visit to
his home. Mr.. Paddison had a chill
on Monday, rhe Sth- He vas sent to
the infirmary and placed in a separate
room (there are no wards) On Tuesday,
and on Thursday afternoon h irrup-
ton appeared.
DR.. r H Whitehead, the physician
TO the university, Immediately suspect
ed smallpox and requested that 1 sum-
mon DIR. Richard II. Lewis, Of Raleigh,
in consultation. This / did by wire,
and DR.. Lewis arrived Thursday even
ing. They agreed in pronouncing the
case smallpox.
DR.. Lewis suggested that DR.. John
Manning, of Durham, who has had
much practical experience in the dis
ease, be sent for, for absolute surety.
DR.. Manning arrived early Friday
morning n confirmed the diagnosis.
There have been -four exposures to
n contagion, so far as known, Mr..
PaddiSon's room mate and three others,
two of whom were not students. These
have been isolated. These exposures
were on the first day OF two of his
sickness and before the period of ir-
ruption, and the physicians state that
it is regarded as doubtful if the disease
is contagious until after the irruptive
stage.
DIR. Whitehead has charge of the pa
tient, and everything that science sug-
gestS will be done to care for the pa
tient n to prevent the spread of the
disease. The infirmary occupies an
isolated position out of each of n
danger to the neighboring buildings,
and Mr.. Paddison has been provided
with immune nurses.
DIR. Charles S. Mangum will act as
college physician and DR.. Whitehead
will not come into contact with the
students. =
1 announced the exact facts in the
case to all the students in the chapel
today at $50 o'clock, and DR.. Lewis
spoke to them on the efficiency of vac
cinatiOn. g.
1t was found that only siXty-two
students of the whole body were I'M
v~accinated. All students unvaccinated
and all those upon whom vaccination
had not taken successfully in the past
two years, will be vaccinated today
and tomorrow. Others may be vacci-
mated if they so desire. The town of
Chapel Hill has orderd compulsory
In the judgment of the physicians,
the common sense thing to do, as well
as the safest thing to do, is for the
students to remain ait the university
and attend to their work. The danger
of further contagion, in the opinion of
the physicians, may practically be dis
regarded. / have Thought it wise to
make this prompt and frank statement
of the situation and state the Judgment
of the Physicians as to the proper
course to be pursued by the students.
Ut should be we'll understood, howev-
er. that nothing will be done to detain
at tine university any student whose
parents may desire him to leave. That
question rests with the parents. My
own judgment comedies with the ply
sicians. 1t is just to the students
themselves to say that they received
the information with good sense and
showed the right spirit of cooperation
with the authorities in any action they
may think necessary.
CSigned.) EDWIN A. ALDERMAN,
President.