The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-10
SPREAD OF MILD SMALLPOX
EPIDEMIC OF vARIOLA HAS BEEN
NOTED IN SEVERAL STATES.
Owing 10 Lack of Niruience II Has
Been Mistaken for Chickenpox-
Papers for the Guidance of Ply
sicians Issued by state of Illinois.

demic disease has been spreading over
good portion OF the Union. ITS salient fea-
lures have been high fever and an eruption
OF the skin. For a long time in many
localities It was diagnosed as chickenpox
Of severe type. But later investigations
all establish the fact that the nation IS
I'm the hands OF an epidemic of smallpox
The disease has spread steadily for long
time now and has invaded the middle west,
many cases having developed in this state
and the adjoining ones. Fortunately so
far the disease has manifested itself IN
a peculiarly mild form Deaths have been
less than per cent OF cases, q condition
never before noted in smallpox epidemics
While the disease presents these mild
features, recovery nearly always following
the critical state, notes of warning nave
been sent broadcast all over the country.
Mia epidemics. say the medical men. can
readily be transformed into extremely Sc
we're and fatal ones With the fact estao-
lished that the disease certainly Is varioa,
an imminent danger Is presented. NO phy-
stefan would be willing TO 20 on record
as of the opinion that this manifestation
marks the final passing OF the dreaded
scourge Yet in some respects the profess
| sion finds foundation for such a belief.
In the early days of this ailment mortality
was frightfuL Few patients attacked by II
recovered: those who did get well were
marked for life. In the present age, when
a large majority of the people have been
vaccinated successfully. smallpox has lost
many of its terrors. Prophylaxis in this
ailment seems TO have wrought decided
| change for the better. But so long as the
poisonous germs exist danger remains or
| a fatal run Of the scourge The cases where
/ the continent type has been noticed or
| where death was supervened have been
generally complicated with other all
ments.
Two papers on the existing epidemic have
! been published i-T---+rr state board of health
of Illinois one was written by DIR. William
| NJ Welch OF Philadelphia, an expert in
| the disease the other by Or. James Nevins
| Hyde of Chicago Both go into details
| and both urge the same warning on the
people DR.. WEIGH finds that the disease
has been carried from the south TO the
north in cotton He finds that many pa
tents suffering from indisputabe small
pox have been strong that they have
gone about their usual vacations while the
eruption was fresh. He notes one case
| in particular. the lirst 10 appear in his home
city which was certainly thus propa-
gated.
DIR WEIGH dweIls upon the difficulties of
diagnosing in many localities He says he
is certuin that the earlier cases were not
recognized in Pennsylvania and argues
that much Infection has thus been per-
mitted free road. All the cases he has
observed were typical. but were clearly
epldemics of this disease are OF extreme
rarity Of late DIR WEIGH takes occasion 10
speak sharply on this matter of diagnosis.
He says. among other things:
considering the rare opportunity Of late
years for physicians to study smallpox
| clinicaly and the unprecedented mildness
OF the disease at the present time, ] am
| not surprised az the frequent errors OF
| diagnosis We know the young physician
begins his lIfework with no other knowl-
| edge OF smallpox than that which ne has
I derived from books or the didaetic lecture.
| The college Is careful to provide for him
| almost every possible variety of clinical
! instruction In diseases that are not con
1 tagious, but on the contagious variety he
| receives absolutely none. This is not the
| fault of colleges nor of the students, but
Of boards OF health or civic authorities
which control the hospitals in which con-
| tagious and Infectious diseases are treated,
| II such hospitals were opened for clinical
| instruction Il would be impossible to esti-
| mate the benefit therefrom to the student
primarily. and secondarily 10 the public.
| Il is here that smallpox may be seen at
| once In its various stages and in every
| possible type The didactie lecturer. as
| rule. treats only Of typical eases. bat in
| the hospital both typical and stypical
cases may he studied &C. therefore. clint
| cal institution was SO comprehensive as to
! include al contagious and infectious dis
] eases MISTAKES OF BlakNa~lS MNNAN De i1AtN
| less frequent, and, in an outbreak OF small
| pox. the earlict as well as the atypicai
| cases would more readily Ae recognized.
aud thus widespread and Fatal epldemics
I might more frequently be prevented
| "In an experience OF twenty-nine years
| % hospital WorA. which Includes a study
| OF over 3 80 cases 81 smallpox. / must SAY
| 1 have never seen cases present uniform.
1 Is So mild type a. dnring the present
| wear nor have I been able 10 find In The
! vast amount Of literature published on the
: subject any account o. a similarly mild
| epidemic tn this or any other country II
I Is true that nos an cases are equally mild.
| The vast majority ~ the patients would
| not remain 90 bed after the eruption ap-
| reared They would dress gp ia their
clothing walk about and indulge IN vari-
! Gus ptanks tricks and games Il gas a
& novel sight for me % see smallpox patti
/ euts. negroes. uRvaccinntod. az about he
! eix OF tenth day % the eruption en-
Z gssiue ia same ~ baseball have not
seen more than two oy three cases during
! the present prevalence ~ the disease
which showed symptoms az all serious
Dr.. Welsh enumeratcs the symptoms o.
/ the present visitation. He declares they
DO not differ excepting in degree from
Z those commonly seen IN the more severe
/ forms He gheu discuases these symp-
4 tome 70 show how they diser from other
disease for which the smallpox has heen
I taken
pr. Hyde discusses the manifestations
: az considerable length Much ~ his pa
F per Is devoted 20 explanations useful Ca
doctor and lavman. He refers a. the ah-
ssnce % secondary fever. etc He then
I says
Danger in Mild Cases.
The state of ohio. accortlne 90 the
Z report made By thr secretary ~ its board
( o. heiitn, DIR prnhst ia the course ~
thc fourteen months ending wgth 1nne
lN1 WAS visited by an epidemic ~ srnsH-
poN. iu which occurred l.S's cases with
fatal results 20 thirty ~ th1ss stricken
The description given q che disease as
% was observed by the physicians 90 the
( siNty-ore cities and villages attacked cor
. responds so closely with that ~ the cases
observed Ga Penrsy lvanla. Illinois Ms
. SQUIRT Kansas and elsewhere tbat lt ts
P Impossible not So recognize the identify ~
the disease wherever 10 has appeared. ln
. tHc chio towns. as tn other localities
rho disease was SO mild at first sh.r 30