The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-26
TAKE NO CHANCES.
Suburban Schools Closed on
Account OF Prevailing
Epidemic.

The public schools in district 36, a
suburb northeast of Topeka, were closed
today on account of the chickenpox
epidemic. There are several cases in
the district and County Physician Ellin-.
ger has put up smallpox signs on two
houses. These houses are those of DR..
Dobbins and a family named Thomas.
The action closing the schools was
taken by the school board last evening.
Yesterday there were only S0pupils pres
ent out of a total enrolment OF over
200. The action was only temporary,
and it may be that the schools will be
reopened after the health officers have
been consulted.
Charles Morse, clerk of the school
board, reported the action of the board
TO the county commissioners today, and
asked that the county health authori-
ties take the epidemic in charge. DR..
Ellinger had already put up the small
pox sign on the DobbinS residence, and
this morning he put up one on the
Thomas residence.
L was told that the school has been
closed for today" said DR.. Ellinger at
noon, "and understand that a meeting
will be held this evening to consider
whether or not they shall be kept closed.
I advised that all pupils be vaccinated
and that the schools be kept open. If
the schools are closed many of the chill
dren will be running around town and
they will be in more danger of taking
the disease and spreading it than they
will be in school. But [ believe that
every one should be vaccinated.
Il have been blamed by some Of the
people for putting up smallpox signs,
but believe tn. disease is a mild form
of smallpox and should be called such,
and l intend to label it as such, no
matter what the city authorities do.
DIR. Hammond and DR.. Mitchell were
called out there to examine one of the
cases by the people who wanted the
smallpox signs taken down, and they
pronounced the cases the same as is
known as Cuban chickenpox,' but
most of the doctors in town agree that
Cuban chickenpoX' is smallpox, and
intend to call it that"
J. F. McAfee, who is one of those who
are eontending to have the smallpox
signs taken down, said:
1T is true that the schools are closed,
but the action was taken without con-
sulting the county health authorities,
and 1 do not see why it was done, be-
cause there is no more occasion for
a scare there than in any other part of
the city. There are three houses now
carded, two with smallpox signs and
one with a Cuban chickenpox' sign, but
all the cases are nothing but Cuban
chickenpOx.' I knew nothing about the
schools being closed until the children
came home about IL o'clock and told
me about it.
when DR.. Ellinger came out here he
carded one of those houses without even
looking at the patient, for he told me so
himself. The house ought to have been
carded with a Cuban chickenpox sign.
I had two physicians come out from the
city and examine the case at DR.. Dob
bins and they say it is nothing but
Cuban chickenpox.' Here is a signed
statement which they made"
The statement which Mr.. McAfee has
is as follows:
NOTICE.
iS fa "a
signed have this day examined the case
at the residence of DR.. Dobbins, now
carded as smallpox, and diagnose the
case to be the disease now prevalent
and known as Cuban chickenpox,' and
which is being carded elsewhere in the
city as Cuban chickenpoX,' and the dis
ease should not be carded as smallp )x.
Those passing the house are in no more
danger Ofataking the disease than they
would be in going to any part of the
city in which the disease is prevalent.
&C. HAMMOND, NJ. D.
m. R. MITCHELL, NJ. D."
All the members of the school board
are Santa F'e shop men. 1t is stated
that they closed the school for today
merely as a precautionary measure, and
the schools will probably be opened
again in accordance with the sugges-
ton made by County Physician Ellin-
ger.
Several cases have been reported TO
the city board OF health where servant
girls have taken the chlckenpOx into
the families where they have been en-
pIoyed.- but it has been rumored that
there have been other cases of this kind
reported measles in the place of chick
enpox on account of the respectable
ty' of the families afflicted.
There are a good many measles
cards up in the city" said Sanitary
Sergeant Patterson today, but we have
to take the attending physicians word
for the disease unless DR.. Peers per-
SonaIlV examines the DatienfS There
may be some doctors in the city would
| make a wrong report, but I do not be-
lieve that any of those who have re-
ported cases of measles would do so. I
III.