The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-16
in AN EPIDEMIC FORM
SMALLPOX HAS BROKEN OUT At AND
NEAR CLAY CITY, IND.
Secretary Hurry Telegraphs Governor
Mount of the COnditiOns-COn-
fluent Smallpox.

Smallpox is raging in epidemic form In
Clay City, a small mining town in Clay
county. The town has population Of six
or seven hundred and it is estimated that
over one-third of it is stricken with the
disease. Many of the cases have assumed
the continent form. DR.. j. N. Hurry, the
secretary of the State Board Of Health,
at present in Clay City, has telegraphed
the boards Of health of the adjoining coun-
ties warning them of the prevalence of the
disease, and everything possible is being
done to prevent its spread.
A few days ago an epidemic resembling
smallpox appeared in Clay City, but as
the disease was very mild the local ply
sicians believed it to be a malignant form
Of chicken-pox and the patients were
treated accordingly. The disease, however,
began to spread very rapidly and it was
not long until 1t was estimated that there
were in the neighborhood of three hundred
cases. The local board of health in Clay
City became alarmed and telegraphed for
DIR. Hurry, who Is an expert in diagnosing
the disease. After an examination of the
first patient with whom he came in contact.
DR.. Hurry at once pronounced the disease
to be smallpox. When the citizens Of the
town became aware that the disease had
been diagnosed as smallpox, they became
frantic with fear and excitement, and
many rushed home and began packing their
effects with the intention of escaping from
the town, but they were too late. Acting
under the instructions of DR.. Hurry the
officials Immediately began the enforcement
OF the quarantine laws and no citizen who
had come in contact with the disease was
permitted to leave. All incoming and out
going mails are being disinfected and moth
ing that would be likely to transmit the
disease is allowed to be shipped away from
the town. 1t is said that there are many
cases in Owen county just over the line
from Clay county, which have probably
been contracted by exposure to the disease
in Clay City. Greene county also reports a
great many cases of so-called chicken-pox,
but the cases have exactly the same symp-
toms as those in Clay county.
The boards of health of the various adj
joining counties will hold meetings to-day
and take some definite action to prevent
the disease from spreading.
At various times chicken-pox has been
reported to the State Board of Health, but
each time there has always been a diver
sity of opinion among the physicians as
to the diagnosis of the disease, some in
sisting that 1t was a mild form of small
pox and others maintaining that 1t was
nothing but chicken-pox. Previous to the
present epidemic in Clay City there had
been no fatalities an any cases reported
and very few Of them had even been seri-
Gus, so that reasonable doubt might have
arisen as to the correct diagnosis of the
case The continent form of the disease
in the endemic at Clay City which often
results fatally, removes the least shadow
of doubt that might exist that the dis
ease is smallpox.
LAST nirht Dr Hurry felepraphed Gov
ernor Mount, notifying him of the condi.
tons at Clay City.